XFOIL is a comprehensive software package for the analysis and design of subsonic isolated airfoils. Developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the late 1970s,
XFOIL is used for aerodynamic analysis of two-dimensional airfoils, wings, and complete aircraft. It has become a standard tool for aerodynamicists and is used for aerodynamic drag prediction, lift and moment coefficients, boundary layer characteristics, and more.
XFOIL provides a comprehensive suite of tools for the analysis and design of airfoils.
Features:
XFOIL offers a comprehensive set of features for airfoil analysis and design.
Analysis: XFOIL can be used to analyze an existing airfoil or to design a new one. It can calculate:
• Aerodynamic coefficients (lift and drag coefficients, moment coefficients, etc.)
• Boundary layer characteristics
• Flow field properties
• Transonic effects
• Stall behavior
• Pressure distribution
Design: XFOIL can be used to design an airfoil from scratch. It can generate airfoil shapes using a variety of methods, including:
• Parametric equations
• Modified lifting-line theory
• Inverse design
Optimization: XFOIL can also be used to optimize an existing airfoil or to generate a new design that meets specific performance goals. It offers a variety of optimization algorithms, including genetic algorithms and simulated annealing.
Other features:
• A wide range of flow solvers and input parameters
• User-defined airfoil geometry
• Support for multiple operating points
• Graphing and data-export capabilities
• Integrated plotting and visualization
XFOIL is freely available and easy to use. It runs on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux platforms and is widely used in academic and industrial settings.