.. _python_API_aerodynamics:

.. currentmodule:: flow360

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Aerodynamics
**************************

Flow360 provides advanced capabilities for external aerodynamics simulations across a wide range of applications and flow regimes. This section covers sophisticated techniques for accurately predicting aerodynamic performance, stability characteristics, and dynamic behavior.

.. grid:: 1

    .. grid-item-card:: 🛫 Airfoil Analysis
        :link: airfoils/index
        :link-type: doc
        
        Advanced techniques for airfoil analysis including high-lift configurations, transonic flows, and boundary layer transition.

    .. grid-item-card:: 📈 Dynamic Derivatives
        :link: dynamic_derivatives/index
        :link-type: doc
        
        Methods for computing stability and control derivatives essential for aircraft dynamics and flight control system design.

    .. grid-item-card:: 🔄 User-Defined Dynamics
        :link: user_defined_dynamics/index
        :link-type: doc
        
        Implementation of custom motion and dynamics models for specialized aerodynamic applications and fluid-structure interaction.

Key Aerodynamic Simulation Capabilities
====================================

* High-fidelity RANS and scale-resolving simulations
* Transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flow modeling
* Boundary layer transition prediction
* Separation and stall modeling
* Dynamic motion and maneuvering
* Aerodynamic optimization
* Aeroacoustic analysis

Applications
==========

Flow360's aerodynamic simulation capabilities support a wide range of applications:

* Aircraft performance prediction and optimization
* High-lift system design and analysis
* Stability and control assessment
* Sport and racing aerodynamics
* Wind engineering and architectural aerodynamics
* Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) design

Analysis Techniques
================

Flow360 supports multiple approaches for advanced aerodynamic analysis:

**Steady-State RANS:**

* Efficient performance prediction at cruise conditions
* Design point optimization
* Initial assessment of aerodynamic characteristics

**Unsteady and Scale-Resolving Simulations:**

* Accurate prediction of separated flows and stall
* Capturing vortex dynamics and unsteady effects
* Detailed analysis of complex flow phenomena

**Dynamic Simulations:**

* Prescribed motion for dynamic derivative computation
* User-defined dynamics for specialized applications
* Fluid-structure interaction for movable rigid structures


.. toctree::
   :hidden:

   airfoils/index
   dynamic_derivatives/index
   user_defined_dynamics/index