v2.1.0

VortexStepMethod v2.1.0

Diff since v2.0.0

Changed

1. Core New Functionality: YAML Geometry Support

• New file: yaml_geometry.jl (290+ lines) — Complete YAML-based wing geometry loading.
• New structs: WingSectionData, WingAirfoilData, WingAirfoilInfo (with @with_kw macros).
• New function: load_polar_data() — Robust CSV polar data loading with error handling.
• New constructors:
  • Wing(geometry_file::String) — Create wings from YAML files.
  • Wing(settings::VSMSettings) — Create wings from settings.

2. Enhanced Settings System

• Renamed vs() to VSMSettings() constructor.
• Added convenience Solver(body_aero, settings) constructor.
• Improved settings structure and validation.

3. Comprehensive Test Infrastructure

• Split tests: Reorganized from monolithic files to modular structure (test/module_name/test_*.jl).
• New test module: yaml_geometry with test_load_polar_data.jl and test_wing_constructor.jl.
• Test utilities: test_data_utils.jl with shared helper functions.
• Test data: Extensive YAML and CSV test files in data.

4. Data and Examples

• New data sets: Complete TUDELFT_V3_KITE with CFD polars and literature results.
• Enhanced examples: Updated examples to use YAML geometry (e.g., pyramid_model.jl, V3_kite.jl).
• Real-world configs: Production-ready YAML geometry files for various kite configurations.

5. Core Module Improvements

• Path handling: Robust file path resolution for relative/absolute paths.
• Error handling: Comprehensive validation and graceful fallback to INVISCID mode.
• Memory management: Improved file I/O and cleanup in tests.
• Documentation: Added comprehensive docstrings and examples.

Merged pull requests:

• Add a geometry from yaml constructor for Wing (#186) (@1-Bart-1)

Closed issues:

• VSM predicts NANs for ram-geometry at low angles of attack? Is this a convergence issue? (#182)
• Create a 'load_geometry_from_yaml` function for VortexStepMethod.jl, and run on a simple straight wing (#184)
• Create a 'load_geometry_from_yaml` function for VortexStepMethod.jl, and run on a simple wing (#185)
• Run V3 Kite does not produce correct result (#189)

v2.0.0

VortexStepMethod v2.0.0

Diff since v1.2.6

Changed

• bump Interpolations to 0.16
• breaking: rename init! to reinit!

Merged pull requests:

• Rename init! to reinit! (#180) (@1-Bart-1)

Closed issues:

• Use AutoFiniteDifferences with factor keyword to deal with noise (#177)

v1.2.6

VortexStepMethod v1.2.6

Diff since v1.2.5

Changed

• update NonlinearSolve.jl

v1.2.5

VortexStepMethod v1.2.5

Diff since v1.2.4

Changed

• suppress @info messages when creating a RamAirWing
• improve examples ram_air_kite.jl and bench.jl

v1.2.4

VortexStepMethod v1.2.4

Diff since v1.2.3

Changed

• implement export of solve and solve! correctly
• do not export menu() because KiteUtils exports it
• the polars of the ram air kite are now saved in .csv files
• update CI.yml

Merged pull requests:

• Use csv instead of bin for 2d polars (#171) (@1-Bart-1)

Closed issues:

• Use csv for polar files (#159)
• Release version 1.2.3 (#168)
• Precompilation fails if polar data was created with newer Julia version (#170)

v1.2.3

VortexStepMethod v1.2.3

Diff since v1.2.2

Changed

• expose the angle of attack alpha_array in the VSMSolution

Merged pull requests:

• Expose alpha corrected (angle of attack of each panel) (#167) (@1-Bart-1)

Closed issues:

• Add NeuralFoil as an extension to the package (#160)

v1.2.2

VortexStepMethod v1.2.2

Diff since v1.2.1

Added

• the parameter prnto the constructor RamAirWing which allows it suppress info messages

Closed issues:

• Release version 1.2.1 (#163)

v1.2.1

VortexStepMethod v1.2.1

Diff since v1.2.0

Added

• Add back bench2.jl and rename it to bench_solve.jl

Removed

• Remove problematic parallel Xfoil computing and use single thread instead

Merged pull requests:

• Add rotation and translation from cad to body frame field to wing (#149) (@1-Bart-1)
• Improve linearize test (#151) (@1-Bart-1)
• Add bench_solve.jl (#152) (@ufechner7)
• Add VSMSettings struct and equivalent yaml file (#156) (@ufechner7)
• Remove parallelized polar computation (#162) (@1-Bart-1)

Closed issues:

• Add VSMSettings struct (#84)
• Release v.1.2.0 (#148)
• Add back bench2.jl and rename it to bench_solve.jl (#150)
• Remove problematic parallel Xfoil computing (#161)

v1.2.0

VortexStepMethod v1.2.0

Diff since v1.1.2

Changed

• The fields that had as type a Matrix of size Px1 have now the type Vector
• Many new fields of the type VSMSolution documented
• init!(body_aero) is now a public function

Added

• Added the option to use nonlinear solve to calculate the gamma distribution
• New page Tips and tricks added to the documentation
• Fast and modular linearization added around an operating point

Merged pull requests:

• Improve init!(body_aero) performance (#139) (@1-Bart-1)
• Add linearization feature (#140) (@1-Bart-1)
• Refactoring: add underscore to private fields (#142) (@ufechner7)

Closed issues:

• Refactoring, part II (#62)
• Use nonlinear solver in gamma_loop (#72)
• Rotate the RamAirKite geometry such that the kite body frame aligns with the principal axes (#132)
• Register and Release v1.1.2 (#135)
• Linearize model (#136)
• Add to docs that init!(body_aero) is very fast (#141)

v1.1.2

VortexStepMethod v1.1.2

Diff since v1.1.1

Added

• The function install_examples() which allows to easily install the examples without using git
• The function solve! returns a struct now. The function solvethat returns a dict is still available.
• The moment coefficients distribution in solve!
• The script install to the bin folder for users who checked out this git repository
• The script bench2.jl was added for allocation testing of the solve! function

Changed

• Read the y-coordinates in the correct direction from the ram_air_kite_body.obj file
• In the menu.jl, changed help to help_me. It works better now, no more warnings on Linux, it should also work on MacOS now
• The coordinate frames of the panels now use the same convention as the kite body frame
• The page "Glossary" of the documentation is quite complete now
• The center of mass field of the RamAirWing is removed, and the geometry is created such that [0, 0, 0] is the center of mass
• The enumeration WingType was added and replaces the symbols, used before
• The allocations of the function solve! where reduced by a factor of 11 to 85 allocations
• align_to_principal option added to RamAirWing
• deform! by a distribution instead of just a left and right angle

Fixed

• The function calculate_circulation_distribution_elliptical_wing() was never called
• Fix the calculation of force coefficients in solve!
• The continues integration scripts (CI.yml) use now separate runs for the test coverage and for the allocation tests.

Merged pull requests:

• Make the coordinate frames of the panels use the same convention as the kite body frame (#92) (@1-Bart-1)
• Add installer for examples (#101) (@ufechner7)
• fix coordinate frames (#104) (@1-Bart-1)
• KiteWing should be centered at center of mass (#108) (@1-Bart-1)
• Fix moment and force coefficients (#110) (@1-Bart-1)
• Add Aqua.jl for quality assurance (#112) (@ufechner7)
• Make pdflatex optional (#114) (@ufechner7)
• Plot polars (#115) (@1-Bart-1)
• Update glossary (#117) (@ufechner7)
• Do not use LaTeX for CI (#118) (@ufechner7)
• Add CONTRIBUTING.md (#121) (@ufechner7)
• Change alpha beta to theta delta (#122) (@1-Bart-1)
• Deform with distribution instead of left and right angle (#123) (@1-Bart-1)
• Add deform! test (#124) (@1-Bart-1)
• Reduce allocation (#126) (@ufechner7)
• Add center of mass field to RamWing (#128) (@1-Bart-1)
• Rm bin (#129) (@1-Bart-1)
• Refactoring, one bugfix (#130) (@ufechner7)
• Add an option to align body frame with principal axes (#134) (@1-Bart-1)

Closed issues:

• Plotting should also work without LaTeX installed (#36)
• Create functions or example scripts that plot the bin files (#51)
• Test this package on Windows (#80)
• Corrected polars for LEI model (#83)
• Local panel axes should follow the same principles as body axes (z up, y spanwise, x from le to te) (#91)
• Add function to install examples (#99)
• Register and release 1.1.1 (#100)
• Add Documentation on symbols and greek letters (#102)
• Rename KiteWing to RamAirWing (#111)
• Use theta for geometric twist angle and delta for trailing edge deflection angle (#116)
• Add contribution guidelines (#119)
• Remove even more solve! allocations (#125)