Fluid-Structure Interactions studies of a Blended Wing Body aircraft using Free and Open-Source Software based Hybrid-Fidelity Framework

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-764-4_2How to use a DOI?

Keywords

blended wing body; CalculiX; Fluid Structure Interaction; FreeCAD; Netgen; OpenVSP

Abstract

Research on Blended Wing Body (BWB) aircraft has received impetus in recent past due to the advantages of higher aerodynamic efficiency, low fuel consumption, and less emissions as compared to conventional tube-and-wing aircrafts. However, a proper multi-disciplinary optimization of the external geometry of BWB needs to be carried out to gain these advantages. In light of this aspect, the present paper reports the development of a hybrid-fidelity one-way fluid structure interaction framework by digital threading of the free and open source software. Seamless functioning of the hybrid-fidelity framework is demonstrated for the BWB aircraft. OpenVSP, an open-source parametric modeling tool, is used for generating 3D CAD model using parametric modeling approach. VSPAERO, the panel method based numerical solver, is employed for low fidelity aerodynamic analysis. FreeCAD, an open-source CAD software with CFD and FEM workbench modules, and meshing tools, is used to receive the CAD model from OpenVSP in STEP format. FE mesh is generated using Netgen in FreeCAD environment. Python scripting is used to map the surface pressure distributions, predicted using VSPAERO, onto the FE mesh in the FreeCAD environment. FEM workbench module of FreeCAD is used to carry out static stress analysis and modal analysis using open-source finite element solver, CalculiX. Advantage of this hybrid fidelity framework is that it uses less computational resources and less time for carrying out one-way FSI studies and would be immensely useful to carry out Design of Experiment studies during conceptual design phase.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - B. S. Jeyanth Varshan
AU  - Manabendra Manindrakumar De
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/04
TI  - Fluid-Structure Interactions studies of a Blended Wing Body aircraft using Free and Open-Source Software based Hybrid-Fidelity Framework
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Mechanics, Materials and Mechatronics (ICM³ 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 7
EP  - 17
SN  - 2589-4943
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-764-4_2
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-764-4_2
ID  - Varshan2026
ER  -