Tutorial for XFoil

Download XFoil
Download XFoil from http://raphael.mit.edu/xfoil/ . It would be a good idea to download the
documentation for future reference as well.

Installing XFoil
Copy the downloaded file to the directory where you want to install XFoil and run it.

Running Xfoil
XFoil is executed by going to the directory where it was installed and typing

% xfoil

Loading an Airfoil
The load or NACA command can used to load an airfoil into XFoil. In this tutorial we will be using a
NACA 2412 airfoil. To load this airfoil type

XFOIL c> NACA 2412

Notice that XFoil will return some of the specifications for the airfoil, including the location and
magnitude of the maximum thickness, maximum camber, and other parameters.

Cleaning the Airfoil Geometry

XFOIL c> pane

NOTE: The commands are not case sensitive

The OPER Sub-Level

XFOIL c> OPER

This will produce the prompt

.OPERi c>

Type a “?" to see a list of available commands and a brief description of their use. This works on any
level of XFoil.

In the OPER level this is what you will see after typing “?”

<cr> Return to Top Level

! Redo last ALFA,CLI,CL,ASEQ,CSEQ,VELS

Visc r Toggle Inviscid/Viscous mode

1
.VPAR Change BL parameter(s)

Re r Change Reynolds number

Mach r Change Mach number

Type i Change type of Mach,Re variation with CL

ITER Change viscous-solution iteration limit

INIT Toggle BL initialization flag

Alfa r Prescribe alpha

CLI r Prescribe inviscid CL

Cl r Prescribe CL

ASeq rrr Prescribe a sequence of alphas

CSeq rrr Prescribe a sequence of CLs

SEQP Toggle polar/Cp(x) sequence plot display

CINC Toggle minimum Cp inclusion in polar

HINC Toggle hinge moment inclusion in polar

Pacc i Toggle auto point accumulation to active polar

PGET f Read new polar from save file

PWRT i Write polar to save file

PSUM Show summary of stored polars

PLIS i List stored polar(s)

PDEL i Delete stored polar

PSOR i Sort stored polar

PPlo ii. Plot stored polar(s)

APlo ii. Plot stored airfoil(s) for each polar

ASET i Copy stored airfoil into current airfoil

PREM ir. Remove point(s) from stored polar

PPAX Change polar plot axis limits

RGET f Read new reference polar from file

2
 RDEL i Delete stored reference polar

GRID Toggle Cp vs x grid overlay

CREF Toggle reference Cp data overlay

FREF Toggle reference CL,CD.. data display

CPx Plot Cp vs x

CPV Plot airfoil with pressure vectors (gee wiz)

.VPlo BL variable plots

.ANNO Annotate current plot

HARD Hardcopy current plot

SIZE r Change plot-object size

CPMI r Change minimum Cp axis annotation

BL i Plot boundary layer velocity profiles

BLC Plot boundary layer velocity profiles at cursor

BLWT r Change velocity profile scale weight

FMOM Calculate flap hinge moment and forces

FNEW rr Set new flap hinge point

VELS rr Calculate velocity components at a point

DUMP f Output Ue,Dstar,Theta,Cf vs s,x,y to file

CPWR f Output x vs Cp to file

CPMN Report minimum surface Cp

NAME s Specify new airfoil name

NINC Increment name version number

Notice that there are three columns, the first is the command, the second one gives an indication of
other inputs the command needs. An " r " means that the command expects a real number, an " i "
means that the command expects an integer, an " f " means that the command expects a filename,
and an " s " that the command expects a string. If the input is not typed after the command XFoil will
prompt the user.

XFoil Under Inviscid Mode

3
Type

.OPERi c> alfa 0

XFoil will find the flow around the airfoil for the given angle of attack, in this case, 0. Notice that a
window pops up showing the pressure distribution, the section lift coefficient, the section moment
coefficient, the angle of attack and the airfoil name.

Figure 1. Cp Distribution at alpha = 0

Type

.OPERi c> cl 0.7

XFoil will find the angle of attack at which the current airfoil produces the section lift coefficient that
has been input. Notice that XFoil once again plots the pressure distribution around the airfoil like it
did previously.

4
 Figure 2. Pressure Distrubion at Cl = 0.6

Viscous Mode
Type

.OPERi c> visc

This command will turn on the viscous mode. XFoil then prompts the user to input a Reynolds
number. For this tutorial we will work with a low Reynolds number, type “3e6" at the prompt. Notice
that a “v” will now appear next to “OPER” in the prompt to indicate viscous flow.

To find the flow around the airfoil at an angle of attack of zero degrees type

.OPERv c> alfa 0

Notice that now there seem to be two pressure distributions. The dashed lines represent the inviscid
flow distribution. This provides an easy way to compare viscous and inviscid flow.

5
 Figure 3. Viscous Flow Around an Airfoil

Notice also that the boundary layer is outlined around the airfoil. Furthermore, the coefficient of
drag and the lift-to-drag ratio are also presented.

If you look at the command screen, the last iteration also provides more data about the airfoil:

Side 1 free transition at x/c = 0.5274 46

Side 2 free transition at x/c = 0.3940 38

6 rms: 0.1349E-04 max: 0.1462E-03 C at 38 2

a = 0.000 CL = 0.2422

Cm = -0.0527 CD = 0.00545 => CDf = 0.00466 CDp = 0.00079

It provides the point of transition to turbulent flow in the upper and lower surfaces. It also provides
CDf and CDp, the friction drag and pressure drag respectively.

Getting a Hard Copy

.OPERv c> hard

A copy will be produced on the XFoil directory under the filename plot.ps. You will not be able to
open this file until you exit XFoil. However, any other files that you hardcopy will be appended to the
file plot.ps.

6
Changing the number of iterations
Type

.OPERv c> alfa 18

You will notice that XFoil does not converge. This is because it reached the maximum number of
iterations. There are two different things that can be done. Type “!”, this command will tell XFoil to
iterate some more. As you can see XFoil will not converge even after you do this once. You can keep
typing “!” until XFoil converges or you can try changing the maximum number of iterations. Type

.OPERv c> iter

A prompt will ask you to enter the number of iterations, type “100”.

Then type

.OPERv c> alfa 18

You will notice that XFoil will converge after about 54 more iterations.

Changing the Cpmin

.OPERv c> cpmn

This will display the minimum Cp distribution

Minimum Inviscid Cp =-17.2591 at x = 0.0004

Minimum Viscous Cp =-12.1387 at x = 0.0010

Type

.OPERv c> cpmi -18

To re-plot the Cp distribution type

.OPERv c> cpx

The Cp distribution should now look like this:

7
 Figure 4. Flow Around an Airfoil at a High Alpha

Saving the Cp Distribution to a File

.OPERv c> cpwr

You will be prompted to enter a filename. Enter “[email protected]”. The file will be saved in text
format and it is possible to use MATLAB to analyze the data.

Running XFoil for a Series of Angles of Attack

.OPERv c> alfa 0

Then

.OPERv c> pacc

This will create a file to which the section lift coefficient, the section drag coefficient, the upper and
lower transition points and other data will be saved. This command also enables the auto point
accumulation. You will be prompted to enter a filename for the newly created polar file. Type
“naca2412.pol”. Press Enter when prompted for a polar dump filename.

Now type

.OPERva c> aseq 0 20 .5

This command will run XFoil for a series of angles of attack, from 0 to 20 degrees at 0.5 degree
increments.

8
Type

.OPERva c> pacc

This will turn off the point accumulation.

The file “naca2412.pol” will be in a text format and can be read by MATLAB.

Changing the Point of Transition to Turbulent Flow

.OPERv c> alfa 0

The last iteration will look like this:

Side 1 free transition at x/c = 0.5274 46

Side 2 free transition at x/c = 0.3940 38

3 rms: 0.8854E-04 max: 0.1737E-02 C at 38 2

a = 0.000 CL = 0.2422

Cm = -0.0527 CD = 0.00545 => CDf = 0.00466 CDp = 0.00079

Notice on the command window that the point of transition of the upper surface (Side 1) is at x/c =
0.5274. Let force transition at x/c = 0.1.

Type

.OPERv c> vpar

This command will move you into the VPAR sub-level

Type

..VPAR c> xtr 0.1 1

This command will force transition at x/c = 0.1 for the upper surface and x/c = 1 at the top surface
(which is the same as free transition).

Press enter to move down to the OPER sub-level.

Type

.OPERv c> alfa 0

The last iteration will now look like this:

Side 1 forced transition at x/c = 0.1000 22

Side 2 free transition at x/c = 0.3824 37

3 rms: 0.6169E-05 max: 0.1369E-03 C at 37 2

9
 a = 0.000 CL = 0.2238

Cm = -0.0499 CD = 0.00763 => CDf = 0.00630 CDp = 0.00133

Notice that transition now occurs at x/c = 0.1 like expected. You can also see the difference in the
section drag coefficients.

Quitting XFoil
Press enter until you return to the top level, then type

XFOIL c> quit

http://cobweb.ecn.purdue.edu/~aae333/XFOIL/Tutorial/Tutorial%20for%20XFoil.htm

10