Calculating Lift Using Computer Simulations

In the years since NACA's experimental data was collected, engineers have used this information to calculate the lift (and other aerodynamic forces) produced by wings and other objects in fluid flows. In recent years, however, computing power has increased such that wind tunnel experiments can now be simulated on an average personal computer.

Software packages, such as FLUENT, have been developed to create simulated fluid flows in which solid objects can be virtually immersed. The applications of this type of software range from simulating the air flowing over a wing, to mapping the airflow through a computer case to ensure that there is enough cool air passing over the CPU to prevent the computer from overheating.