This is the second in a series. You can start the series here. Building on the previous episode of 3D airflow over a wing section, this episode calculates the lift and drag.

This is the second in a series.  You can start the series here.   The series follows my journey figuring out how to use OpenFOAM for something more than repeating tutorials that already exist!    Sometimes that journey gets a little rocky!   :)

This is Episode 1 in this series using FreeCAD and the CfdOF Workbench  to work through various OpenFOAM cases.  This is a 2D, inviscid, transient run.

Out of a nerdy curiosity, I have been interested in visualizations made possible by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for some time.  It seems that OpenFOAM is a very capable, open-source option.  However, much of the setup and operation is through individual text files and command-line invocations.  For the 'recreational CFD-er', a Graphical User Interface (GUI) seems to be more productive.

Quick Update 

 I thought I was going to delve into SwiftBlock and understand the mysteries of setting curved edges.........not so much.  Those mysteries still elude me.  But, I got edge grading to work, so it wasn't a complete loss! :)

The Short Version... 

I've attempted to get started with OpenFOAM before.  I generally get bored with the building-block approach to learning it, jump in too deep and quickly get discouraged.  I added an OpenFOAM category to this blog in an attempt to motivate me to take smaller steps and to remain committed for a bit longer.