Software Interfaces Available In the CompAero and TurbAero Design & Analysis Systems
The suite of programs in both of the design & analysis systems feature an extensive internal interfacing capability. Indeed, in aerodynamic design activity, most programs are run using input files created by other programs in the system with minimal editing required by the designer (and often none).
Most programs also offer a rather general data export capability suitable for creating text files that can easily be imported into spreadsheet or graphics software, CAE/CAD/CAM/FEA/CFD systems, etc. In the case of the complex Radial Impeller Geometry PACakage (program RIGPAC) it is also quite simple to import geometry data for existing or reverse-engineered components from text files. These files are commonly created by CAE/CAD systems or from spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Excel.
The turbine performance analysis programs (AXTURB and RIFT) and the compressor performance analysis programs (CENCOM and AXCOM) can export performance map data to files suitable for import into Sinda/Fluint, a general fluid & thermal analysis for complex systems by C&R Technologies.
Program RIGPAC also exports 3-dimensional, ruled-surface impeller geometry data to files suitable for direct import into the Pro/Engineer CAE/CAD/CAM software by Parametric Technology Corporation.
Program RIGPAC also has a more general and generic impeller geometry export capability suitable for a variety of CAE/CAD/CAM/CFD applications. It was developed specifically as an interface to SolidWorks, but it should be applicable to other similar applications.