Class AirfoilProfile

ScriptableObject containing aerodynamic performance data for an airfoil cross-section. Stores lift, drag, and moment coefficient curves as functions of angle of attack.

Inheritance

object

Object

ScriptableObject

AirfoilProfile

Namespace: NWH.Aerodynamics.Airfoils

Assembly: NWH.Aerodynamics.dll

Syntax

[CreateAssetMenu(fileName = "AirfoilProfile", menuName = "NWH/Aerodynamics/AirfoilProfile", order = 1)]
public class AirfoilProfile : ScriptableObject

Remarks

Polar data is typically generated from airfoil analysis tools like XFOIL or wind tunnel testing. The ParsePolarData() method converts raw XFOIL output into Unity AnimationCurves for runtime evaluation. Over 1500 airfoil profiles are available in the UIUC Airfoil Database and compatible with this system.

Fields

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aoaIndex

Angle of attack column index.

Declaration

[Tooltip("Angle of attack column index.")]
public int aoaIndex

Field Value

Type	Description
int

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cdCoefficient

Multiplier for drag coefficient values from the curve. Scales all Cd values. Values below 1.0 reduce drag, above 1.0 increase drag. Default 1.0.

Declaration

[Tooltip("Coefficient of drag for this profile.")]
public float cdCoefficient

Field Value

Type	Description
float

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cdCurve

Drag coefficient as a function of angle of attack in degrees. X-axis: angle of attack (-180 to +180 degrees), Y-axis: coefficient of drag (Cd).

Declaration

[Tooltip("Drag curve.")]
public AnimationCurve cdCurve

Field Value

Type	Description
AnimationCurve

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cdIndex

Coefficient of drag column index.

Declaration

[Tooltip("Coefficient of drag column index.")]
public int cdIndex

Field Value

Type	Description
int

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clCoefficient

Multiplier for lift coefficient values from the curve. Scales all Cl values. Values below 1.0 reduce lift, above 1.0 increase lift. Default 1.0.

Declaration

[Tooltip("Coefficient of lift for this profile.")]
public float clCoefficient

Field Value

Type	Description
float

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clCurve

Lift coefficient as a function of angle of attack in degrees. X-axis: angle of attack (-180 to +180 degrees), Y-axis: coefficient of lift (Cl).

Declaration

[Tooltip("Lift curve.")]
public AnimationCurve clCurve

Field Value

Type	Description
AnimationCurve

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clIndex

Coefficient of lift column index.

Declaration

[Tooltip("Coefficient of lift column index.")]
public int clIndex

Field Value

Type	Description
int

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cmCoefficient

Multiplier for moment coefficient values from the curve. Scales all Cm values. Values below 1.0 reduce moment, above 1.0 increase moment. Default 1.0.

Declaration

[Tooltip("Moment coefficient for this profile.")]
public float cmCoefficient

Field Value

Type	Description
float

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cmCurve

Pitching moment coefficient as a function of angle of attack in degrees. X-axis: angle of attack (-180 to +180 degrees), Y-axis: coefficient of moment (Cm). Positive values create nose-up pitching moment.

Declaration

[Tooltip("Moment curve.")]
public AnimationCurve cmCurve

Field Value

Type	Description
AnimationCurve

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cmIndex

Moment coefficient column index.

Declaration

[Tooltip("Moment coefficient column index.")]
public int cmIndex

Field Value

Type	Description
int

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headerLines

Number of lines in polar string before the data starts. 12 for XFOIL.

Declaration

[Tooltip("Number of lines in polar string before the data starts.\r\n12 for XFOIL.")]
public int headerLines

Field Value

Type	Description
int

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polarString

Raw polar data text from XFOIL or similar airfoil analysis tool. Contains tabulated Cl, Cd, and Cm values at various angles of attack. Parsed by ParsePolarData() to generate coefficient curves.

Declaration

[TextArea(3, 8)]
[Tooltip("Raw simulation output for the airfoil shape.")]
public string polarString

Field Value

Type	Description
string

Methods

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MakeSmooth(AnimationCurve)

Smooths out scripting-generated AnimationCurve. Runs only in editor.

Declaration

public static AnimationCurve MakeSmooth(AnimationCurve inCurve)

Parameters

Type	Name	Description
AnimationCurve	inCurve

Returns

Type	Description
AnimationCurve

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ParsePolarData(string)

Parses raw polar data text and generates AnimationCurves for lift, drag, and moment coefficients.

Declaration

public bool ParsePolarData(string @string)

Parameters

Type	Name	Description
string	string	Raw polar data string from XFOIL or similar tool.

Returns

Type	Description
bool	True if parsing succeeded, false otherwise.

Remarks

Expects tabulated data with columns for angle of attack, Cl, Cd, and Cm. Column indices are specified by aoaIndex, clIndex, cdIndex, and cmIndex properties. Header lines (typically 12 for XFOIL) are skipped based on headerLines property. The resulting curves are automatically smoothed and extrapolated to ±90 degrees.