nTop AeroDeck Generator

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Community submission — not verified by nTop. This package was submitted by an outside community member and has not been reviewed or verified by nTop. Treat its accuracy, safety, and compatibility claims with appropriate caution.

Summary

Production-ready Python pipeline that ingests nTop panel geometry CSV exports and generates aerodynamic decks using AVL and XFOIL, with PDF reports and JSON output for downstream 6-DOF simulation.

Package Details

Field	Value
ID	`ntop-aero-avl`
Type	Bundle
Author	bradrothenberg
Version	0.1.0
nTop Version	4.26.4
Domain	Aerospace
Application	Analysis
Complexity	Advanced
Tags	`avl`, `xfoil`, `vortex lattice`, `aerodynamics`, `aero deck`, `6-dof`, `stability`, `python`
License	MIT
Verified	No

A production-ready Python pipeline that ingests nTop panel geometry exports and automatically generates comprehensive aerodynamic decks using AVL and XFOIL, with both human-readable reports and machine-readable output files for downstream 6-DOF simulation.

Source repository: https://github.com/bradrothenberg/nTopAero_AVL

Features

Automated Pipeline — Load nTop CSV exports → Generate AVL input → Run analysis → Create aero deck
Comprehensive Validation — Geometry validation with detailed error/warning reporting
AVL + XFOIL Integration — Automated execution with batch processing and cached airfoil polars
PDF Reports — Auto-generated reports covering static/dynamic stability, control effectiveness, and dynamic modes
6-DOF Ready Output — Machine-readable JSON aerodeck for downstream simulation
Flexible Configuration — YAML-based configuration for all analysis parameters

Requirements

Python 3.9+
AVL (Mark Drela, MIT)
XFOIL (optional, for airfoil polars)

Installation

git clone https://github.com/bradrothenberg/nTopAero_AVL
cd ntop-aerodeck
pip install -e .

nTop Export Requirements

Export your aircraft geometry from nTop as the following CSV files:

File	Description
`mass.csv`	Mass, CG, and inertia tensor
`LEpts.csv`	Leading edge panel points (x, y, z)
`TEpts.csv`	Trailing edge panel points (x, y, z)
`WINGLETpts.csv`	(Optional) Winglet geometry points
`ELEVONpts.csv`	(Optional) Control surface hinge line points

Quick Start

# Full pipeline — AVL + XFOIL + spanwise loads for FEA
aerodeck build /path/to/ntop_export/ --verbose

# Custom load factor (default: 6g)
aerodeck build /path/to/ntop_export/ -g 4.0 --verbose

# AVL only (no XFOIL)
aerodeck generate /path/to/ntop_export/ -v

# Validate geometry without running analysis
aerodeck validate /path/to/ntop_export/

Output Files

File	Description
`{name}.avl`	AVL geometry input (human-readable)
`{name}.mass`	AVL mass file
`{name}_aerodeck.json`	Full aero deck for 6-DOF simulation
`{name}_aerodeck.pdf`	Comprehensive analysis report
`avl_outputs/`	Raw AVL text outputs
`polars/*.csv`	Cached XFOIL airfoil polars

PDF Report Contents

Summary: metadata, reference geometry, mass properties
Static stability derivatives (CL_α, Cm_α, Cn_β, neutral point)
Dynamic stability derivatives (CL_q, Cm_q, Cl_p, Cn_r, …)
Roll-yaw coupling characteristics
Dynamic modes (Dutch roll, spiral, roll subsidence)
Control effectiveness and trim requirements
Elevon forces and hinge loading

License

MIT — see the source repository for details.

Authors

Brad Rothenberg

Acknowledgments

AVL and XFOIL by Mark Drela (MIT).

Source

https://community.ntop.com/packages/bradrothenberg/ntop-aero-avl

nTop

nTop Automate

nTop Core

nTop AeroDeck Generator

Summary

Package Details

Features

Requirements

Installation

nTop Export Requirements

Quick Start

Output Files

PDF Report Contents

License

Authors

Acknowledgments

Source

​Summary

​Package Details

​Features

​Requirements

​Installation

​nTop Export Requirements

​Quick Start

​Output Files

​PDF Report Contents

​License

​Authors

​Acknowledgments

​Source

Summary

Package Details

Features

Requirements

Installation

nTop Export Requirements

Quick Start

Output Files

PDF Report Contents

License

Authors

Acknowledgments

Source