The ModelViewer can now display the orientation vectors of the

aerodynamic panels for visual inspection.

modelviewer/plotting.py

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ def plot_nothing(self):
         self.show_strc = False
         self.show_mode = False
         self.show_aero = False
+        self.show_panel_normal_vectors = False
         self.show_cfdgrids = False
         self.show_coupling = False
         self.show_cs = False
@@ -192,17 +193,30 @@ def update_mode_display(self, offsets):
         self.ug_strc.modified()
 
     def hide_aero(self):
-        self.src_aerogrid.remove()
-        self.src_MAC.remove()
-        self.show_aero = False
-        mlab.draw(self.fig)
+        if self.show_aero:
+            self.src_aerogrid.remove()
+            self.src_MAC.remove()
+            self.show_aero = False
+            mlab.draw(self.fig)
+        if self.show_panel_normal_vectors:
+            self.src_panel_normal_vectors.remove()
+            self.show_panel_normal_vectors = False
 
     def plot_aero(self, scalars=None, colormap='coolwarm', vminmax=[-10.0, 10.0]):
         self.setup_aero_display(scalars, colormap, vminmax)
         self.setup_mac_display()
         self.show_aero = True
         mlab.draw(self.fig)
 
+    def plot_panel_normal_vectors(self):
+        # This function plots the normal vectors on each aerodynamic panel to identify the orientation visually.
+        x, y, z = self.aerogrid['offset_k'][:,0], self.aerogrid['offset_k'][:,1], self.aerogrid['offset_k'][:,2]
+        Nx, Ny, Nz, = self.aerogrid['N'][:,0], self.aerogrid['N'][:,1], self.aerogrid['N'][:,2]
+        self.src_panel_normal_vectors = mlab.quiver3d(x, y, z, Nx, Ny, Nz, color=(0,1,0), opacity=0.4, 
+                                                      scale_mode='vector', scale_factor=1.0)
+        self.show_panel_normal_vectors = True
+        mlab.draw(self.fig)
+
     def setup_mac_display(self):
         ug2 = tvtk.UnstructuredGrid(points=np.array([self.MAC]))
         self.src_MAC = mlab.pipeline.add_dataset(ug2)

modelviewer/view.py

@@ -226,6 +226,9 @@ def initAeroTab(self):
         self.cb_w2gj = QtGui.QCheckBox('Color by W2GJ [deg]')
         self.cb_w2gj.setChecked(False)
         self.cb_w2gj.stateChanged.connect(self.get_aero_for_plotting)
+        self.cb_normal_vectors = QtGui.QCheckBox('Panel normal vectors')
+        self.cb_normal_vectors.setChecked(False)
+        self.cb_normal_vectors.stateChanged.connect(self.get_aero_for_plotting)
         bt_aero_hide = QtGui.QPushButton('Hide')
         bt_aero_hide.clicked.connect(self.plotting.hide_aero)
         self.lb_MAC = QtGui.QLabel(
@@ -245,6 +248,7 @@ def initAeroTab(self):
         layout_aero.addWidget(self.lb_MAC)
         layout_aero.addWidget(self.lb_MAC2)
         layout_aero.addWidget(self.cb_w2gj)
+        layout_aero.addWidget(self.cb_normal_vectors)
         layout_aero.addWidget(bt_aero_hide)
         layout_aero.addWidget(self.list_markers)
         layout_aero.addWidget(bt_cfdgrid_hide)
@@ -517,19 +521,16 @@ def get_aero_for_plotting(self):
         if self.list_aero.currentItem() is not None:
             key = self.list_aero.currentItem().data(0)
             self.calc_MAC(key)
-            self.lb_MAC.setText(
-                'MAC: x={:0.4f}, y={:0.4f} m'.format(self.MAC[0], self.MAC[1]))
-            self.lb_MAC2.setText(
-                '(based on AIC from "{}", rigid, subsonic)'.format(key))
+            self.lb_MAC.setText('MAC: x={:0.4f}, y={:0.4f} m'.format(self.MAC[0], self.MAC[1]))
+            self.lb_MAC2.setText('(based on AIC from "{}", rigid, subsonic)'.format(key))
+            if self.plotting.show_aero:
+                self.plotting.hide_aero()
             if self.cb_w2gj.isChecked():
-                if self.plotting.show_aero:
-                    self.plotting.hide_aero()
-                self.plotting.plot_aero(
-                    self.model['camber_twist']['cam_rad'][()] / np.pi * 180.0)
+                self.plotting.plot_aero(self.model['camber_twist']['cam_rad'][()] / np.pi * 180.0)
             else:
-                if self.plotting.show_aero:
-                    self.plotting.hide_aero()
                 self.plotting.plot_aero()
+            if self.cb_normal_vectors.isChecked():
+                self.plotting.plot_panel_normal_vectors()
 
     def get_new_cs_for_plotting(self, *args):
         # To show a different control surface, new points need to be created. Thus, remove last control surface from plot.