Version 7.

6 of VSAERO
James K. Nathman
Director of VSAERO Development
July 2012

Version 7.6 of VSAERO supersedes Version 7.4. (Version 7.5 was limited to
improvements in the frequency domain module.) This release consists of the updated code with
improvements described below, a Version 7.6 Users Manual, and 60 testcases (three new).
Version 7.6 has been tested for 144 cases under the Linux 2.4 and Windows XP operating
systems.

TYPE-8 JET WAKES

Type-8 Jet wakes can now be attached to a thin-surface (Type 3 or 5) patch and
VSAERO will correctly treat the numerics associated with a jet wake. Previously, the user had
to manually specify the base panel.

TYPE-5 SIMPLE PROPELLER WAKE

The propeller normal velocity, wake axial velocity and wake swirl can be determined by
VSAERO from the disk loading, CPA, and advance ratio, ADVRT. This is signaled in the wake
input by providing the patch number of the propeller disk.

DOUBLE PRECISION
Version 7.6 is released in two precisions: 32-bit and 64-bit precisions. As the number of
panels in a model inevitably increases, the ratio of smallest panel to largest panel increases,
which requires more precision. 64-bit operating systems with large amounts of memory are
more common, so the penalty for double precision arithmetic is not as significant as was in the
past. However, some matrix solvers are not yet available in double precision and the 64-bit
version will require a year of service before it can be regarded as thoroughly tested.

MODELS WITHOUT WAKE GRID PLANES

In some situations, the constant-x wake grid planes of older versions are a hindrance. For
example, a deployed leading-edge slat on a swept wing requires many spanwise wing columns
because constant-x wake-panel edges will intersect the wing unless the wake panels have small
span. Version 7.6 allows the wakes to be modeled without wake grid planes. LGRID=.FALSE.
in the TRGRID namelist will signal VSAERO that the wakes will be stored like patches with no
requirement that the panel edges be at the same X location. Such an input is compatible with
gridding programs that output the wake panels like patches. The lb435_nogrid input illustrates a

Version 7.6 Release Notes Page 1

lb435 with wake grid planes

lb435 without wake grid planes

Version 7.6 Release Notes Page 2

solution without wake grid planes.

recommended.

Wake relaxation without wake grid planes is not

Wakes for propellers at low advance ratios also can benefit from a different
discretization. At low advance ratio, the thrust of a propeller will cause the slipstream to
contract, but constant-x grid planes can generate a spurious tip vortex trajectory that increases in
radius. With constant-azimuth grid planes (HELREL=2), the spurious trajectory is absent.

Propeller with constant-X grid planes

Version 7.6 Release Notes Page 3

Propeller with constant-azimuth grid planes

FREQUENCY DOMAIN IMPROVEMENTS

Oscillatory calculations for high frequencies and Mach Number (kM) now converge faster
with respect to panel number when DIVZ=.TRUE. in the OSCILL namelist. Experience since
Version 7.4 was released has shown that the large number of panels required for convergence at
high reduced frequencies could be improved considerably by a higher-order integration.
Oscillatory calculations (mode=5) are now possible with unstructured, triangular patches
(IDENT=10 & 11). Unstructured patches are still not allowed for mode=6 calculations of the
influence coefficient matrix.

SIMULTANEOUS BOUNDARY LAYER AND WAKE ITERATIONS

Version 7.6 can determine the wake shape and boundary-layer thickness simultaneously with
BLWIT=1 in the BLAYER namelist. Previously, wake rollup was determined with the
circulation from the inviscid solution, then the boundary layer calculated with the inviscid wake
shape. It was possible to restart VSAERO with the viscous solution for further wake shape
calculations. This is unnecessary with Version 7.6. With BLWIT turned on the boundary layer
and wake shape will be determined simultaneously. The lb435_blwit testcase demonstrates this.
A slightly different final answer is obtained from previous results because the boundary layer
and wake shape are compatible with each other.

Version 7.6 Release Notes Page 4

SQUEEZE UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS

TRAILING-EDGE PANEL SPACING
The trailing-edge pressure distribution is often best behaved when the ratio of panel sizes
is 1:3:5 where the smallest panel is at the trailing edge. This is the size distribution generated
by a cosine distribution. SURFGEN does not readily have a cosine distribution available.
Version 7.6 remedies this deficit by including the spacing, SQSPAC, in the SQUEEZE utility
(see SQUEEZE namelist input). Besides eliminating gaps and matching panel sizes, SQUEEZE
can now change the panel size distribution with SQSPAC=COSINE.

WAKE SQUEEZE
SQUEEZE has been limited to airfoils defined by a complete section. Wake-separations
defined at the edges of different patches could not be improved by SQUEEZE. Version 7.6
allows wakes (instead of patches) to be squeezed with SQEEZW, instead of SQEEZ for
patches. The matching and spacing of the separation-line paneling are available without
restriction as to how the patches involved are sectioned. However, closing an open trailing edge
is not available.

Version 7.4 with Input spacing, NMATCH=2

Version 7.6 Release Notes Page 5

Version 7.5 with SQSPAC=COSINE, NMATCH=2

ERRORS FIXED
The number of wake grid planes was incorrectly counted, which could lead to VSAERO
terminating because the number of grid planes exceeded the limit when the input was within
capacity.
Boundary layer transition when momentum Reynolds number reaches 200 (ITRIP=3)
works properly again in the Nash & Hicks boundary layer.
A divide by zero in determining the velocity/pressure on an unstructured panel adjacent
to a structured patch has been eliminated.
Frequency domain calculations for compressible cases now correctly include symmetry
(RSYM=0.).

New Testcases
Lb435_blwit calculates the boundary layer simultaneously with the wake relaxation.
Lb435_nogrid bypasses the constant-x grid plane description of the wake and uses the
input corner points as wake panel corners.

Version 7.6 Release Notes Page 6

Prop5bwi_cal illustrates a simple propeller model where VSAERO determines the

propeller normal velocity, wake axial velocity and wake swirl from the propeller thrust and
advance ratio.

Version 7.6 Release Notes Page 7