Batch cross-sectional analysis of 1600+ airfoils with PreVABS + VABS

A simple example that walks through running PreVABS/VABS in batch mode to compute Timoshenko beam properties across a large set of airfoil cross-sections — useful if you’re doing parametric or trade studies on composite slender structures (blades, wings, etc.).

What it covers:

  • Starting from standard Selig-format airfoil coordinate files (UIUC database)

  • Reusing a single PreVABS XML template across different materials and layup configurations (aluminum skin, CFRP at 0° and 45°)

  • Post-processing VABS output with sgio to extract a configurable list of section properties (mu, ea, gj, ei22, ei33, coupling terms, etc.) into a flat CSV

  • An interactive plot (dropdowns for x/y properties, airfoil highlighting, toggleable legend) to browse results across all 1600+ cases

Config is JSON-based, with concurrency control, sampling, and a continue/stop failure policy for batch runs.

The shared template only exposes a handful of placeholders (airfoil geometry, LE/TE points, material, layup), so the same batch-driver pattern extends readily to other cross-sectional designs — see the PreVABS documentation for the full set of supported geometry and layup options.

Full example, source code, and the interactive plot: