Carlos Pimentel's blog

Go to the first part:  On innovation and other hoaxes: a true story at university (Part 1) After the development, verification, and validation (v&v) of the last code for massive flow separation, the time has come to explore a three-dimensional low-order panel method. The vortex lattice method (VLM) was chosen because of its simplicity in implementation compared to more complex potential-based schemes, such as the doublet lattice method (DLM). In addition, the VLM has historically provided good agreement with the expected results at the lowest computational cost, although it only allows calculations for zero-thickness bodies or plates, similar to a fabric (e.g., a parachute canopy). Originally, the standard (or single wake) VLM provides a linear solution (for the lift coefficient), since it allows flow separation only along the trailing edge. Historically, such a method has been applied from medium-high (AR>4) to high aspect ratio configurations, such as wings or airplanes, ...

This is a true story told in the first person. Real names are omitted because my goal is not to demonize anyone; fight ideas, not people. However, this situation may soon change as all of those mentioned continue to affect my interests. It was 2017 when I crossed the Atlantic Ocean for the third time to attend a conference series about computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software that we distribute in my country. The last two times it was to take summer courses at Moscow and Kharkiv/Kharkov aviation institutes, in 2011 (MAI) and 2014 (KhAI), during my bachelor and master programs, respectively. This last time, I took the opportunity to meet my future PhD advisor and co-advisor, whose I contacted some months ago via e-mail to ask for a chance to develop a project related to parachute aerodynamics, a field in which I have some experience, designing, manufacturing and testing small-scale ones for different applications ( www.chuteshiut.com ). Everything goes fine, as I presented some C...