Open Source Code OpenFOAM Research Articles

Flow around triangular prisms with varying vertex angle at low Reynolds numbers

The present work investigates the unsteady flow around triangular prisms with vertex angles of 30°,45°,60°, and 90° for shedding Reynolds number between 50 and 150. The numerical simulations of flow around triangular prisms at different vertex angles and Reynolds number has been carried out using the open-source code OpenFOAM. The wake of the prisms in different cases has been examined using instantaneous and time-averaged velocity and vorticity fields. The energy dynamics in the wake are demonstrated using enstrophy. The paper explains the shedding around a prism and reports the differences in the wake due to the different vertex angles of the prisms employed in the present work. Strouhal number and force coefficients have been obtained and compared for different prisms. The coefficient of lift and drag phase plot indicates a higher spread for prisms with larger vertex angles at higher Reynolds number. The shedding frequency has a linear variation with Reynolds numbers for the prisms. The obtained results were compared with earlier works on square cylinders and 45° oriented square cylinder.

Reducing spatial discretization error on coarse CFD simulations using an openFOAM-embedded deep learning framework

AbstractWe propose a method for reducing the spatial discretization error of coarse computational fluid dynamics (CFD) problems by enhancing the quality of low-resolution simulations using deep learning. We feed the model with fine-grid data after projecting it to the coarse-grid discretization. We substitute the default differencing scheme for the convection term by a feed-forward neural network that interpolates velocities from cell centers to face values to produce velocities that approximate the down-sampled fine-grid data well. The deep learning framework incorporates the open-source CFD code OpenFOAM, resulting in an end-to-end differentiable model. We automatically differentiate the CFD physics using a discrete adjoint code version. We present a fast communication method between TensorFlow (Python) and OpenFOAM (c++) that accelerates the training process. We applied the model to the flow past a square cylinder problem, reducing the error from 120% to 25% in the velocity for simulations inside the training distribution compared to the traditional solver using an x8 coarser mesh. For simulations outside the training distribution, the error reduction in the velocities was about 50%. The training is affordable in terms of time and data samples since the architecture exploits the local features of the physics.

Assessing Zebra Mussels’ Impact on Fishway Efficiency: McNary Lock and Dam Case Study

The Columbia River Basin faces a threat from the potential invasion of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), notorious for their ability to attach to various substrates, including concrete, which is common in fishway construction. Extensive mussel colonization within fishways may affect fish passage by altering flow patterns or creating physical barriers, leading to increased travel times, or potentially preventing passage altogether. Many factors affect mussel habitat suitability including vectors of dispersal, water parameters, and various hydrodynamic quantities, such as water depth, velocity, and turbulence. The objective of this study is to assess the potential for zebra mussels to attach to fishway surfaces and form colonies in the McNary Lock and Dam Oregon-shore fishway and evaluate the potential impact of this infestation on the fishway’s efficiency. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the McNary Oregon-shore fishway was developed using the open-source code OpenFOAM, with the two-phase solver interFoam. Mesh quality is critical to obtain a reliable solution, so the numerical mesh was refined near the free surface and all solid surfaces to properly capture the complex flow patterns and free surface location. The simulation results for the 6-year average flow rate showed good agreement with the measured water column depth over each weir. Regions susceptible to mussel infestation were identified, and an analysis was performed to determine the mussel’s preference to colonize as a function of the depth-averaged velocity, water depth, and wall shear stress. Habitat suitability criteria were applied to the output of the hydraulic variables from the CFD solution and provided insight into the potential impact on the fishway efficiency. Details on the mesh construction, model setup, and numerical results are presented and discussed.

Determination of transient heat transfer by cooling channel in high-pressure die casting using inverse method

Complex shapes of aluminum castings are typically manufactured during the short cycle process known as the high-pressure die casting (HPDC). High productivity is ensured by introducing die cooling through a system of channels, die inserts or jet coolers. Die cooling can also effectively help in reducing internal porosity in cast components. Accurate simulations based on sophisticated numerical models require accurate input data such as material properties, initial and boundary conditions. Although the heat is dominantly dissipated through die cooling, indicating the importance of knowing precise thermal boundary conditions, open literature lacks a detailed information about the spatial distribution of heat transfer coefficient. This study presents an inverse method to determine accurate heat transfer coefficients of a die insert based on temperature measurements in multiple points by 0.5 mm K-type thermocouples and a subsequent solution of the two-dimensional inverse heat conduction problem. The solver was built in the open-source CFD code OpenFOAM and the free library for nonlinear optimization NLopt. The results are presented for the commonly used 10 mm die insert with a hemispherical tip and coolant flow rates ranging from 100 l/h to 200 l/h. Heat transfer coefficients reach values well above 50 kW/m2K in the hemispherical tip, which is followed by a secondary peak and then a gradual drop to values around 1 kW/m2K further downstream.

Thermo-energy performance of a phase change material integrated into lightweight hollow concrete roofs in warm–subhumid climate

The use of phase change materials in building envelopes has attracted the attention of researchers to minimize cooling and heating loads and for thermal comfort regulation. A research gap was found regarding the numerical analysis of lightweight roofs with PCM considering conjugate heat transfer. Thus, this paper aims to evaluate the thermal performance of a lightweight hollow concrete roof with a phase change material (PCM) in a subhumid climate. Three roof configurations with two PCMs were numerically analyzed through computational fluid dynamics. Simulations were conducted using the open-source code OpenFoam and were verified and validated with good agreements proving the confidence of the proposed methodology for building envelope design purposes. The roof configurations with fully-filled PCM exhibited the best thermal behavior, reaching higher temperature reductions between 1.4 °C to 2.0 °C, respectively, and reductions of indoor peak heat flux by approximately 47 % compared with the reference case. The roof fully-filled with an inorganic PCM with a melting temperature of 25 °C was the most energy-efficient roof configuration because it achieved the highest energy savings of 65.5 %, lowest electricity costs of 0.85–4.33 USD m−2, and lowest CO2 emissions of approximately 18.31 kgCO2e m−2. The results demonstrated that the utilization of PCM into lightweight concrete roofs in subhumid climates is very promising.

Investigating Fishing Vessel Hydrodynamics by Using EFD and CFD Tools, with Focus on Total Ship Resistance and Its Components

The aim of this work is to gain a better understanding of the hydrodynamics of a typical Argentinian fishing vessel in calm water. It is focused on the evaluation of total ship resistance and its components for different draughts. The 1978 ITTC Power Prediction method is used to predict total ship resistance from experiments carried out at the University of Buenos Aires towing tank. To conduct a more detailed evaluation of the flow around this hull, numerical studies at model scale are carried out with the open-source code OpenFOAM V10 and validated against experimental results. The Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) method together with Volume of Fluid (VOF) are used for the numerical procedure. The validated CFD model not only can provide more detailed information about the ship’s hydrodynamics than the EFD results but also allows for the exploration of the improvement in ship power prediction by using combined CFD-EFD methodologies. This work numerically calculates the form factor by using a double-body configuration and discusses the possibility of combining EFD results with this CFD form factor in order to improve total force prediction for this kind of ships.

Direct deposition of air pollutants in the wake of container vessels: The missing term in the environmental impact of shipping

Understanding the deposition of pollutants produced by the operation of vessels is necessary to quantify air-water pollution interactions. This work develops and presents a novel model for calculating the amount of pollutants deposited on the sea water at the wake of vessels. Deposition depends on meteorological conditions, and vessel operation and design. The work was repeated for several subcategories of vessels included within the broader category of container ships and considered the impact of scrubber operation if such a system were installed on the vessel. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling was utilized, employing the open-source code OpenFOAM, to calculate the concentration of pollutants in the wake of the vessel. The sensitivity of deposition to different parameters was studied. The key parameters, including the wind relative speed and angle, the main engine power as a proxy for vehicle size, and the exhaust gas velocity, were combined to a single equation that can be used to predict deposition from sea-going container vessels. Direct deposition of pollutants (e.g., SO2) in the wake of vessels was found to be as much as 24 % of the total pollutant quantity produced, under favourable conditions. Direct deposition is so far neglected by air quality models that only report regional level deposition, starting from background ambient levels of pollution. This creates a bias to the predicted air and water pollution impacts. The use of the model proposed to whole vessel fleets, taking stock of the local weather conditions, will enable understanding the global impacts of direct deposition.

Effect of fluid elasticity and shear thinning on heat transfer from a heated sphere at moderate Reynolds numbers

The drag and heat transfer characteristics of an isothermal sphere in a FENE-P-type viscoelastic fluid have been studied in the steady axisymmetric flow regime. The governing equations, namely, mass, momentum, and energy equations, together with FENE-P type viscoelastic constitutive equations, have been solved using the finite volume method based opensource CFD code OpenFOAM over the following ranges of conditions: Reynolds number, 1 ≤ Re ≤ 100 ; Prandtl number, 1 ≤ Pr ≤ 50 ; Weissenberg number, 0 ​ ≤ Wi ≤ 10 and polymer extensibility parameter, 10 ≤ L 2 ≤ 500 for a fixed value of the polymer viscosity ratio of β = 0.5 . At low Reynolds numbers, fluid viscoelasticity causes an upward and downward shifting in the axial velocity profiles with reference to that in a Newtonian fluid along the upstream and downstream axis of the sphere, respectively. However, such a shift progressively diminishes with the increasing Reynolds number. Furthermore, a “velocity overshoot” and/or a “negative wake” is also observed in a viscoelastic polymer solution at low Reynolds numbers, and this is accentuated with the increasing Weissenberg number. The separation of boundary layers is seen to be suppressed with the increasing Weissenberg number. The drag coefficient decreases with the Reynolds number irrespective of the fluid type and the corresponding dependence on the Weissenberg number is found to be non-monotonic depending upon the values of Re and L 2. The average Nusselt number always increases with the increasing values of Re, Pr, and Wi and with the decreasing value of L 2. A limited number of simulations have also been carried out to show the effect of the temperature-dependent viscosity of the fluid on the flow dynamics and heat transfer characteristics. Finally, simple correlations for the drag coefficient and average Nusselt number are presented which not only capture the functional dependence but also can be used for the interpolation of the present results for the intermediate values of the governing parameters in a new application.

Numerical Simulation of Gas Explosion with Non-uniform Concentration Distribution by Using OpenFOAM.

Gas explosions in coal mines have occurred occasionally, which may cause casualties and economic losses. In the actual mine roadway, the gas concentration distribution is uneven because the gas density is lower than that of air. Gas explosion characteristics of uneven gas distribution with the concentration gradient in mine roadways were analyzed by using the open-source computational fluid dynamic code OpenFOAM. The flame and pressure characteristics were calculated, and the flame and shock wave propagation laws of the non-uniform gas-air mixture explosion with different concentration gradients were analyzed and compared with the uniform gas-air mixture gas. The results show that when the overall gas concentration is the same, the flame velocity and the pressure growth rate of the uniform gas explosion are lower than those of the non-uniform, but the pressure peaks of both are similar. At the same time, when the initial volume concentration is 10%, the non-uniform gas explosion has the highest flame propagation velocity and peak value. The peak explosion pressure of different concentration gradients is proportional to the initial concentration. The above studies clarified the characteristics of gas-air mixture explosions with concentration gradients and provided theoretical support for the prevention and control of gas explosion disasters.

A Hybrid Large Eddy Simulation Algorithm Based on the Implicit Domain Decomposition

The resolution of small near-wall eddies encountered in high-Reynolds number flows using large eddy simulation (LES) requires very fine meshes that may be computationally prohibitive. As a result, the use of wall-modeled LES as an alternative is becoming more popular. In this paper, the near-wall domain decomposition (NDD) approach that was originally developed for Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations (RANSs) is extended to the hybrid RANS/LES zonal decomposition. The algorithm is implemented in two stages. First, the solution is computed everywhere with LES on a coarse grid using a new non-local slip boundary condition for the instantaneous velocity at the wall. The solution is then recomputed in the near-wall region with RANS. The slip boundary conditions used in the first stage guarantee that the composite solution is smooth at the inner/outer region interface. Another advantage of the model is that the turbulent viscosity in the inner region is computed based on the corresponding RANS velocity. This shows improvement over those hybrid models that have only one velocity field in the whole domain obtained from LES. The model is realized in the open source code OpenFOAM with different approximations of turbulent viscosity and is applied to the planar channel flow at frictional Reynolds numbers of Reτ=950, 2000, and 4200. Mean streamwise velocity and Reynolds stress intensities are predicted reasonably well in comparison to the solutions obtained with unresolved LES and available DNS benchmarks. No additional forcing at the interface is required, while the log–layer mismatch is essentially reduced in all cases.

Study on the turning and heading performance of ship in stern and beam waves

Based on the open-source code OpenFOAM, a hybrid method based on the fully nonlinear potential flow method (FNPT) and the viscous flow method, combined with the propulsion model of the propeller and rudder, is used to simulate the turning and zigzag maneuvering motion of a single-screw ship in stern and beam waves. The wave is generated by FNPT, and the 6DOF maneuvering motion in waves and the ship-wave interaction are simulated by the viscous flow method in the internal field. The force and moment of the propeller and rudder are obtained by the propulsion model to improve the computational efficiency. The KVLCC2 model is used as the object for numerical simulation, and the numerical method is validated by the self-propulsion tank test. The maneuvering motion of the ship at the designed speed in stern and beam waves is simulated, and the turning and heading performance of the ship in the stern and beam waves is studied and analyzed by changing the wavelength.

Virtual PMM captive tests using OpenFOAM to estimate hydrodynamic derivatives and vessel maneuverability

This study reveals the significance of hydrodynamic derivatives derived at the different Froud number (Fr) in accurately predicting of a vessel's turning-circle maneuvers through solving the maneuvering modeling group (MMG) model. The computed turning-circle diameter showed a good agreement with the model test results, with less than 4% difference observed when using the hydrodynamic derivatives derived at Fr = 0.201. However, at Fr = 0.26, a significant difference was observed, which could be attributed to the use of lower values of maximum sway amplitude ymax and maximum yaw rate rmax′. The hydrodynamic characteristics of a maneuvering vessel may not be fully reflected, with the high displacement of the straight surging motion dominating the results. In this study, a set of virtual planar motion mechanism (PMM) captive tests is numerically conducted on a bare container ship hull model using an open-source code OpenFOAM. The virtual PMM captive test cases involve different maximum sway amplitude, maximum yaw rates, and Fr, achieved by varying sway amplitudes, heading angles, and the carriage speeds, respectively. The obtained numerical results are reconstructed as Fourier series (FS) equations to derive hydrodynamic derivatives employing the single run (SR) method. A system-based method is adopted to predict vessel's turning-circle maneuverability in calm water by employing the MMG mathematical model.

Flow simulation around square cylinder with inclined corner gap at low Reynolds number

In this paper, an investigation of the effects of inclined corner gaps of varying widths and lengths on the static aerodynamic force coefficients and flow features of a square cylinder at low Reynolds number (Re of 100) by comparing with an unmodified square cylinder is discussed. The width of the corner gap (x/D) was varied between 0.02 and 0.24, with two different lengths of it (l/D), namely, 0.05 and 0.11. The open-source code OpenFOAM was used as a solver. A second-order accuracy level was ensured for both time and space during the numerical set up of the model. Validation and verification studies were conducted to ensure the authenticity of the results. The mean and rms values of the static force coefficients of these cylinders were compared and important flow features were explored. Even at a low Re, the proposed corner modification was found to be effective in improving the static aerodynamic performance. For different gap widths, the static force parameters evidenced some patterns, with an optimum width for which the mean drag value reached the minimum value identified. Furthermore, the mean and fluctuating pressure and velocity contour were analyzed to understand the underlying flow mechanism.

Comprehensive Euler/Lagrange modelling including particle erosion for confined gas-solid flows

The present research aims to assess the capability of a comprehensive Euler/Lagrange approach for predicting gas-solid flows and the associated solid particle erosion. The open-source code OpenFOAM® 4.1 was used to carry out the numerical simulations, where the standard Lagrangian libraries were substantially extended to account for all necessary models. Particles are tracked considering both translational and rotational motion as well as all relevant forces, such as gravity/buoyancy, drag and transverse lift due to shear and particle rotation. The tracking time step was dynamically adapted according to the locally relevant time scales, which drastically reduces computational times. Stochastic approaches are adopted to model particle turbulent dispersion, particle collisions with rough walls and particle-particle interactions. Five solid particle erosion models, available in the literature, were considered to estimate pipe bend erosion. Three study cases are provided to validate the adopted numerical approach and erosion models extensively. The first case intends to evaluate the ability of the extended CFD code to predict the behaviour of gas-solid flows in pneumatic conveying systems. This goal is achieved by comparing the numerical results with the experimental data obtained by Huber (1997) and Huber and Sommerfeld (1994, 1998) in a pneumatic conveying system. Here, the importance of considering inter-particle collisions and surface roughness for predicting particle velocity, mass flux and mean diameter distributions in gas-solid flows is highlighted. The second and third case intend to evaluate the ability of the erosion models in estimating bend erosion in diluted gas-solid flows. The erosion data obtained experimentally by Mazumder et al. (2008) and Solnordal et al. (2015) in very dilut pneumatic conveying systems is used for validating the numerical results, neglecting now inter-particle collisions and two-way coupling. Besides a comprehensive analysis of the different influential properties on erosion, the innovation of the present study is as follows. For the first time also a temporal modification of the surface roughness due to the erosion was considered in the simulations obtained from previous measurements (Novelletto Ricardo & Sommerfeld, 2020). As the surface roughness is increased due to erosion, eventually erosion rate becomes lower. This is the result of diminishing wall collision frequency. Simulations for several degrees of surface roughness showed that larger roughness is coupled with a drastic reduction of erosion. Hence, numerical simulations neglecting wall surface roughness are not realistic. The consideration of a particle size distribution instead of mono-sized computations showed a possible reduction of erosion rate. The detailed analysis of the different single-particle erosion models revealed that the model proposed by Oka et al. (2005) and Oka and Yoshida (2005) yields the best agreement with the measurements, however particle and wall properties are needed.

Development and validation in water of FLUNED, an open-source tool for fluid activation calculations

In nuclear fusion installations, high-energy plasma neutron activates the cooling and breeding fluids, generating a mobile and distributed source of radiation. In water-cooled fusion reactors, such as ITER and DEMO, the most concerning radioisotopes present in the coolant are the 16N and 17N. Their prompt emission impacts the design, safety, and, ultimately, the economics of the plant as it can be the dominant source of radiation in regions far from the plasma. The flowing condition makes the calculation of radioisotope concentrations within an irradiated cooling circuit particularly challenging as it requires the coupling of the neutronics and fluid dynamics characteristics of the problem. Recent works showed that, except for simple and limited cases, the coupling requires the implementation of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods. Nevertheless, the use of ad-hoc methodologies or the application of proprietary codes has hampered the participation and formation of common benchmarks among the neutronics community. In this work, we present the development of an open-source tool called FLUNED that studies the evolution of the concentration of radioactive species inside a fluid and that considers the fluid dynamics of the carrier. The tool is based on the open-source CFD code OpenFOAM and makes use of its modular nature to complement the fluid continuity equation with the radioisotope decay and production terms. In the second part of this work, we show the code validation using experimental data from the water activation experiment performed at FNG in Frascati in December 2019. The validation was performed by producing a computational chain that simulated the main components of the water circuit and estimated the counts in the two experimental detectors caused by the decay of the 16N and 17N isotopes. Finally, the positive comparison between the calculated and the experimental values allowed us to establish the validation of FLUNED for studies of fluid activation in water-cooled fusion experiments and reactors.

A numerical study on the wave loading on offshore structures of different cross-sectional geometries under the action of regular waves

Coastal engineering and maritime hydraulics have experienced significant development over the years with the construction of bridges, oil exploration platforms, and ports, highlighting the importance of studying and quantifying the efforts resulting from wave loads on these structures. The present work aims to identify how a variation in the geometry of the cross-section, along the wave climate, can modify the magnitude of the wave loadings experienced by the structure. The open-source computational code OpenFOAM v. 4.1 was applied in the considered cases, along with the OlaFlow extension, considering the application of a structured mesh, the VOF (Volume of Fluid) methodology for representing the free surface, and the turbulence modeling according to Reynolds averaged equations (RANS). The results demonstrated that the shape of the cross-section plays an important role in the efforts experienced by the structure, and this influence is directly related to a characteristic length, whose intensification causes an increase in the magnitude of the experienced horizontal force. Likewise, by defining important dimensionless parameters, it was possible to obtain approximate expressions to determine the maximum wave force on the structures. The results and analyses carried out demonstrated that the force value calculated according to this approximation methodology is quite adequate, presenting relative errors smaller than 11,00%, corresponding to a relevant simplified approach for the determination of the maximum wave loads experienced by the structures, which can be important for proper design and analysis.

Numerical simulation of aerosol generation by cutting fuel debris and aerosol removal by spray droplets during Fukushima decommissioning

The proposed plan for decommissioning the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors involves cutting the melted and re-solidified fuel debris into small pieces for retrieval from the reactor buildings. However, the cutting process generates submicron aerosol particles that need to be removed from the containment vessel before they escape into the environment. The existing spray system inside the containment vessel can be used to remove these aerosol particles using various collection mechanisms. To simulate both the aerosol generation and removal processes, a new numerical model has been developed using the open-source Computational Fluid Dynamics code OpenFOAM. The simulation results indicate that the rate of aerosol generation does not affect the efficiency of aerosol removal, and larger particles can be removed faster due to stronger inertial impaction. The newly developed numerical model has also been used to simulate aerosol generation and removal in the real-size containment vessel of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor unit 3. The simulation results provide information on the spatial distribution of aerosol particles under different multiple-nozzle layouts, which can be used to optimize the design of future multiple-nozzle spray systems for the real Fukushima decommissioning.

Corrections for the drag on submarines due to the blockage effect

A numerical investigation of the drag on submarines close to the seabed was conducted. The objective was to obtain velocity corrections to account for the additional drag caused by the blockage effect. A simulation model to estimate drag of a submarine hull was built using the open source code OpenFOAM. Numerical errors due to grid refinement were assessed and simulations were validated through comparisons with experimental data. The analyzed Reynolds numbers ranged from 5×106 to 2.5×107. Results showed good agreement with experimental drag coefficients for open water conditions, with maximum deviation of 3.25% for the lowest Reynolds number. To assess the effect of the proximity to the bottom wall, four model-to-wall distances were considered. Results showed a prominent effect on the pressure drag components and were used to propose two types of velocity correction for the blockage effect. The proposed correlations successfully corrected the pressure coefficient towards the open water values.

Effect of cavity aspect ratio on mixed convective heat transfer phenomenon inside a lid-driven cavity due to elastic turbulence

This study performs extensive numerical simulations to investigate how the aspect ratio (AR) of a lid-driven cavity influences the onset of elastic instability and elastic turbulence and the subsequent mixed convective heat transfer rate inside it. To this end, we utilize the finite volume method based open source code OpenFOAM along with Rheotool to solve the mass, momentum, energy, and viscoelastic constitutive equations. We find that the dependency of the cavity AR on the heat transfer rate is highly complicated depending upon the values of the Richardson (Ri) and Prandtl numbers (Pr). At low values of Ri, the heat transfer rate continuously decreases with AR irrespective of the value of the Prandtl number and the fluid type, i.e., Newtonian or viscoelastic. The same trend is also observed at high values of Ri and low values of Pr. At these combinations of Ri and Pr, the heat transfer rate is always higher in viscoelastic fluids than in Newtonian fluids due to the presence of elastic turbulence in the former fluids. However, a different trend is observed at high values of both Ri and Pr. At this combination of Ri and Pr, the heat transfer rate increases with AR in Newtonian fluids, whereas it decreases in viscoelastic fluids. Therefore, at high values of AR, Ri, and Pr, the heat transfer rate is higher in Newtonian fluids than that in viscoelastic fluids despite the presence of elastic turbulence in the latter fluids. This is in contrast to the assumption that the elastic turbulence phenomenon always increases the rate of transport processes. A possible explanation for this behavior is provided in this study. Along with the heat transfer aspects, we also provide a detailed discussion on how the cavity aspect ratio influences the corresponding flow dynamics inside the cavity. In particular, we find that the onset of the elastic instability (and the subsequent elastic turbulence) phenomenon is delayed to higher values of the Weissenberg number as the cavity aspect ratio increases. This is in line with prior experimental studies reported in the literature.

Aerodynamic optimization of a VTOL drone using winglets

In this work, an aerodynamic optimization of a VTOL drone wing has been carried out by implementing winglets. A dual methodology has been used employing a CFD study with the open source code OpenFOAM and applying the Vortex Lattice Method with the open source tool XFLR5 for different configurations and wingtips: the original wing, raked wingtips, and blended winglets. A comparison between the two software has been conducted to determine the validity of XFLR5 and to quantify the error in calculating the aerodynamic coefficients and the bending moment. XFLR5 offers the same trends as RANS at a fraction of the cost, allowing the use of XFLR5 for the first stages of design.