Int. J. Mech. Eng. & Rob. Res.

2012 Rama Krishna N Parasaram and T N Charyulu, 2012

ISSN 2278 – 0149 www.ijmerr.com

Vol. 1, No. 3, October 2012
© 2012 IJMERR. All Rights Reserved

Research Paper

AIRFOIL PROFILE DESIGN BY REVERSE

ENGINEERING BEZIER CURVE

Rama Krishna N Parasaram1* and T N Charyulu1

*Corresponding Author: Rama Krishna N Parasaram,  ramakrishna3333@gmail.com

Though it is easier to model and create an airfoil profile in CAD environment using camber cloud
of points, after the creation of vane profile it is very difficult to change the shape of profile for
analysis or optimization purpose by using cloud of points. In this paper, we investigate and
described the creation of airfoil profile in CAD (CATIA) environment using the control point of the
camber profile. By means of changing the values of control points, the shape of the profile can
be easily changed and also the design of the cambered airfoil was established without affecting
the basic airfoil geometry. In this paper, the Quintic Reverse Engineering of Bezier curve formula
was used to find the camber control points from the existing camber cloud of points.

Keywords: Airfoil, Quintic reverse engineering bezier curve, Camber, NACA-4 digit series,
CATIA

INTRODUCTION substantially length of the camber line

Each airfoil comprises an inner airfoil surface
and outer airfoil surface. The inner airfoil and
outer airfoil surface define a vane airfoil
thickness (Joel, 2003). Airfoil includes a
leading edge positioned along a first inner and
outer airfoil along a first airfoil surface junction,
a trailing edge positioned along a second
inner and outer surface junction. The airfoil
inner and outer airfoil surface are specially
configured to provide a airfoil camber line,
positioned between the two airfoil profile and
extending along the length of the airfoil that is
1
Nova College of Engineering and Technology, Jangareddygudam, Vegavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India.
(Richard, 1990).
The “NACA airfoils” are airfoil shapes for
aircraft wings developed by the “National
Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA)”
(Jacobs et al., 1933). The shape of the NACA
airfoils is described using a series of digits
following the word “NACA.” The parameters
in the numerical code can be entered into
equations to precisely generate the cross-
section of the airfoil and calculate its
properties.

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Figure 1: Profile Geometry
Note: 1 – Zero lift line; 2 – Leading edge; 3 – Nose circle;
4 – Camber; 5 – Max thickness; 6 – Upper (outer) surface;
7 – Trailing edge; 8 – Camber mean-line; 9 – Lower (inner)
surface; 10 – C-Chord length.
The NACA has different series of digit airfoil
are (1) 4 digit series airfoil; (2) 5 digit series
airfoil; (3) 7 digit series airfoil; and (4) 8 digit
series airfoil.
We are taking the general example creation
of standard airfoil like the NACA four-digit
airfoils sections are airfoil shapes for aircraft.
The NACA four-digit wing sections define the
profile by one digit describing maximum
camber as percentage of the chord (Moran,
2003) NACA 2412.
• One digit describing the distance of
maximum camber from the airfoil leading
edge in tens of percents of chord.
• Two digits describing maximum thickness
of the airfoil as percent of the chord.
For example, the NACA 2412 airfoil
(Abbott and Von, 1959) has a maximum
camber of 2% located 40% (0.4 chords)
from the leading edge with a maximum
thickness of 12% of the chord. Four-digit
series airfoils by default have maximum
thickness at 30% of the chord (0.3 chords)
from the leading edge.
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Rama Krishna N Parasaram and T N Charyulu, 2012
DEFINITION OF NACA-0011
AIRFOIL
The NACA 0011 (Abbott and Von, 1959) airfoil
is symmetrical, the 00 indicating that it has no
camber. The 15 indicates that the airfoil has a
15% thickness to chord length ratio: it is 15%
as thick as it is long. The thickness and camber
formula (1 and 4) using the creation NACA-
0011 airfoil.
The Thickness formula (1) for the shape of
a NACA 0011 foil, with “11” being replaced by
the percentage of thickness to chord is 0.11.
Using the NACA 0011 aerofoil profile extract
the cloud of points from NACA four-digit Series
Profile Generator by giving the proper input
(Richard, 1990). The Input Variables are:
Maximum Camber: 0
Maximum Camber Position: 0
Thickness: 11
No of Stream wise Points: 40
Points Distribution: 1
Points Size: 4
OUTPUT OF THE NACA 4-
SERIES PROFILE
GENERATOR
Output of the NACA 4-series (Jens and
Robert) Profile Generator-0011(Figure 2)
and profile cloud points were calculated for
Chord Length value is 1. After getting the
Cloud of points Data, we multiply with our
original Chord 40 mm and multiply with the
parsed cloud points data. We got the real
scaled Cloud points shown in Tables 1 and 2.
In addition to that we need to divide the value
1 into 40 division as shown in the Table 1 t
division column.
Int. J. Mech. Eng. & Rob. Res. 2012 Rama Krishna N Parasaram and T N Charyulu, 2012

Figure 2: NACA 4 Digits Series Profile Generator

Table 1 (Cont.)
Table 1: Upper Camber Cloud of Points
and ‘t’ Value X Y Z t1/40
X Y Z t1/40 16.87 2.095 0 0.435
0 0 0 0 18.43 2.025 0 0.461
0.246 0.495 0 0.025 20 1.941 0 0.487
0.552 0.728 0 0.051 21.56 1.844 0 0.512
0.978 0.949 0 0.076 23.12 1.737 0 0.538
1.522 1.157 0 0.102 24.66 1.622 0 0.564
2.179 1.351 0 0.128 26.18 1.500 0 0.589
2.947 1.529 0 0.153 27.65 1.374 0 0.615
3.819 1.688 0 0.179 29.07 1.245 0 0.641
4.791 1.828 0 0.205 30.45 1.115 0 0.666
5.857 1.946 0 0.230 31.75 0.986 0 0.692
7.011 2.042 0 0.256 32.98 0.859 0 0.717
8.244 2.116 0 0.282 34.14 0.737 0 0.743
9.550 2.166 0 0.307 35.20 0.620 0 0.769
10.92 2.194 0 0.333 36.18 0.510 0 0.794
12.34 2.200 0 0.350 37.05 0.408 0 0.820
13.81 2.184 0 0.384 37.82 0.317 0 0.846
15.33 2.149 0 0.410 38.47 0.237 0 0.871

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Table 1 (Cont.) Table 2 (Cont.)

X Y Z t1/40 X Y Z
39.02 0.170 0 0.897 31.75 –0.98 0
39.44 0.116 0 0.923 32.98 –0.85 0
39.75 0.077 0 0.948 34.14 –0.73 0
39.93 0.054 0 0.974 35.20 –0.62 0
40.00 0 0 1 36.18 –0.51 0
37.05 –0.40 0
Table 2: Lower Camber Cloud 37.82 –0.31 0
of Point’s Value
38.47 –0.23 0
X Y Z 39.02 –0.17 0
0 0 0 39.44 –0.11 0
0.246 –0.49 0 39.75 –0.07 0
0.552 –0.72 0 39.93 –0.05 0
0.978 –0.94 0 40.00 0 0
1.522 –1.15 0
2.179 –1.35 0 Total number of generating points in the
2.947 –1.52 0 output of the generator is only 80 points,
3.819 –1.68 0 Leading Edge created by using nose circle
4.791 –1.82 0
(2) and Trailing edge created by using angle.
5.857 –1.94 0
We need to find the Control points from
calculated Cloud of points refer (Tables 1 and
7.011 –2.04 0
2). For Quintic Reverse Engineering of Bezier
8.244 –2.11 0
Curve (Prautzsch et al., 2002) formula, we
9.55 –2.16 0
need to pick only Six Cloud of point at
10.92 –2.19 0
Equidistance out of forty points of upper
12.34 –2.2 0
camber profile, similarly on lower camber
13.81 –2.18 0
profile please refer (Tables 1 and 2) picked
15.33 –2.14 0
16.87 –2.09 0 Table 3: Picked Six Cloud of Points
18.43 –2.02 0 of Upper Camber and ‘t’ Division

20.00 –1.94 0 Upper Camber Points

t
21.56 –1.84 0 Des X Y Z
23.12 –1.73 0 c0 0 0 0 0
24.66 –1.62 0 c1 = f 3.8197 1.6885 0 0.1795 = u
26.18 –1.50 0 c2 = g 13.819 2.1844 0 0.3846 = v
27.65 –1.37 0 c3 = h 26.180 1.5003 0 0.5897 = w
29.07 –1.24 0 c4 = j 36.180 0.5102 0 0.7949 = r
30.45 –1.11 0 c5 40 0.0462 0 1

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Int. J. Mech. Eng. & Rob. Res. 2012 Rama Krishna N Parasaram and T N Charyulu, 2012

points marked as BOLD letter and picked point out the control points from original camber
plotted in the Tables 3 and 4. cloud of points. We equally divide the 40 points
Camber points’ value into six Divisions refer
Table 4: Picked Six Cloud of Points
of Lower Camber, ‘t’ Division (Tables 1 to 4). Using the Six Original camber
point value, the Six Control point of the Camber
Lower Camber Points
t Curve using formula (6) was find out.
Des X Y Z
To define six original picked points and
c6 0 0 0 0
have a Bezier curve passing through all six
c7 3.819 –1.6885 0 0.1795 = u
origin points. Basically, given the upper profile
c8 13.819 –2.1844 0 0.3846 = v
six original points c0, c1, c2, c3, c4 and c5,
c9 26.180 –1.5003 0 0.5897 = w
we will used find upper six control points of
c10 36.180 –0.5102 0 0.7949 = r
p0, p1, p2, p3, p4 and p5 such that the Bezier
c11 40 –0.0462 0 1
curve calculated using points p(i), will pass
QUINTIC BEZIER CURVE through the points c(i).
FORMULA Figure 3 and Table 3 shows that when ‘t’ is
We created all input data for our Quintic zero, the equation effectively collapses into just
Reverse Engineering Bezier Curve formula. In p0. When ‘t’ is one, there is no change in
Bezier, the Control Points are the driving points equation gives p5. When t is between zero and
to create a curve (Farin, 1997). We need one, the resulting point lies on the curve itself,
control points of the camber curve to create so iterating t from zero to one will give the
an airfoil in CATIA. We develop the Quintic Bezier curve. Since we know the curve will
Reverse Engineering of Bezier formula (6) pass through p0 and p5, we need to find p1,
from Quintic Bezier curve formula (5) to find p2, p3 and p4.

Figure 3: Example Quintic Bezier Curve Figure

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Suppose we want the curve to pass through

Figure 4: Upper Camber Profile 3D Curve
p0 when t = 0, f when t = u, g when t = v, h when Creation
t = w, j when t = r and p6 when t =1, where f, g,
h and j are the points to be passed through.
Next, we make sure that 0 < u, r < 1 and u not
equal to r. These conditions will ensure a
solution can be found. Next, we substitute the
desired points into the equation.

AIRFOIL DESIGN IN CATIA

After find out the control point of the both
Camber profile using Quintic Reverse
Engineering Bezier Curve formula, Using the
Six Upper and Six Lower Camber Control

Figure 5: Lower Camber Profile 3D

Figure 6: Final 2D Airfoil Profile Design in CATIA

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Points create a airfoil profile in CATIA. The
Control Points are plotted in CATIA (Richard,
2006) using points coordinate option and
after using the 3D The Control Points are
plotted in CATIA (Richard, 2006) using points
coordinate option and after using the 3D
curve option in free style shaper or Quick
Surface Reconstruction Module in CATIA
create a upper Camber and Lower Camber
3D Curve as shown in the Figures 4 and 5.
Finally, created an airfoil profile design in
CATIA using control points see Figure 6.
VALIDATE THE AIRFOIL
DESIGN
After created the airfoil profile in CATIA to
validate the airfoil design with NACA 4-digits
profile Generator output data by means of read

Figure 7: Airfoil Created in CATIA Using Cloud of Points

the cloud of points output data (Tables 1 and
2) using digitized shape editor module and plot
the cloud of points value in CATIA as shown in
the Figure 7.
Figure 7 is the base design created using
the formula of the NACA profile Generator and
coincide with our airfoil design which is created
using the control points (refer Figure 6) to
validate the airfoil design. If it coincides
perfectly, the design is validate. The Figure 8
shows that both the airfoil profile designs
coincide perfectly.

Figure 8: Coincide the 2D Airfoil with Cloud of Points

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Int. J. Mech. Eng. & Rob. Res. 2012 Rama Krishna N Parasaram and T N Charyulu, 2012

RELATION BETWEEN the upper control point p2 and the lower

CONTROL POINTS
By assigning the Y axis length difference
formula relation (Sham and Deepak, 2006)
between the upper and lower camber
control points to control the profile easily
(refer Figures 9 and 10). By maintaining
constant Y axis length difference between
camber control point p8 was shown in the
Figures 9 and 10 and similarly maintains
the constant Y axis length difference
between p1 and p7, p3 and p9, p4 and p10.
For example constant Y axis length
difference between the p2 and p8 is 7.308
as shown in the Table 7.

Figure 9: Constant Y Length Difference Relation Between Upper p2 (Red)

and Lower p8 (Red) Camber Control Point

Figure 10: Constant Y Length Difference Relation Between Upper p2 (Red)

and Lower p8 (Red) Camber Control Point

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Int. J. Mech. Eng. & Rob. Res. 2012 Rama Krishna N Parasaram and T N Charyulu, 2012

Table 7: Constant Y Length Difference Between the p2 and p8

Axis P2-Upper Camber Control P8-Lower Camber Constant Y-Axis Length Difference
Point (CP) Control Point (CP) Formula P8 = p2 + Difference (X)

Y 3.654 –3.654 –3.654 = 3.654 + X – 3.645 – 3.654

= –7.308 = X
Constant Y value length difference p8 is –3.654 = 3.654 – 7.308

By means of changing the control point p1, RESULTS

p2, p3 and p4 it automatically update the By changing the Y-value of the upper control point
lower camber control point p7, p8, p9 and p1, p2, p3 and p4 change the airfoil profile and
p10 using formula relation as shown in without affecting the basic airfoil geometry. To
Figures 9 and 10. create a camber airfoil, by changing upper

Figure 11: Control Point p1 (Shown in Red Color) Y-Value Changes Which
is Located 10% of the Length of the Airfoil

Figure 12: Control Point p2 (Red) Y-Value Changes Which is Located 40%
of the Length of the Airfoil

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Int. J. Mech. Eng. & Rob. Res. 2012 Rama Krishna N Parasaram and T N Charyulu, 2012

camber control point Y-value which is situated shows how the airfoil profile modified in CATIA
10%, 40% 80% and 95% of the chord length. It as shown in Figures 11 to 14.

Figure 13: Control Point p3 (Red) Y-Value Changes Which is Located 80%
of the Length of the Airfoil

Figure 14: Control Point p2 and p3 (Red) Y-Value Changes Which is Located 40%
and 80% of the Length of the Airfoil

CONCLUSION points, we easily modify the shape of the

In this study, we have investigated and
designed an airfoil profile in CAD environment
using control points. We have employed a
Quintic Reverse Engineering Bezier curve
formula to find out the control points of the
camber profile which is used to create an upper
and lower camber profile. By using the control
profile so that to produce the cambered airfoil
shape without affecting basic airfoil geometry.
The objective of this work is to find a simple
and accurate way to design the airfoil profile
in CATIA using six camber control point
position. However the present method was
applied only for six camber control point

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Int. J. Mech. Eng. & Rob. Res. 2012
position in the airfoil. The future work can be
attempted to increase the number of camber
point positions by means of increasing the
degree ‘n’ value of the Bezier curve formula
and to employ a high order Reverse
Engineering Bezier curve formula to find out
the more camber control point locations on the
airfoil design.
REFERENCES
1. Abbott and Von Doenhoff (1959), “Theory
of Wing Sections-Basics for All NACA
Airfoil Surface”.
2. Farin Gerald (1997), Curves and
Surfaces for Computer-Aided Geometric
Design, 4th Edition, Elsevier Science and
Technology Books.
3. Jacobs E N, Ward K E and Pinkerton R
M (1933), “The Characteristics of 78
Related Airfoil Sections from Tests in the
Variable-Density Wind Tunnel”, NACA
Report No. 460.
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Rama Krishna N Parasaram and T N Charyulu, 2012
4. Jens Trapp and Robert Zores, available
at www.ppart.de/aerodynamics/profiles/
NACA4.html
5. Joel P Castan (2003), “Cambered Airfoil
Use in Turbocharger”, US Patent, Vol. 7,
No. 771, p. 162.
6. Moran Jack (2003), “An Introduction
to Theoretical and Computational
Aerodynamics”.
7. Prautzsch H, Boehm W and Paluszny M
(2002), Bezier and B-Spline Techniques.
8. Richard Cozzens (2006), “Advanced
CATIA V5 Workbook: Knowledge Ware
and Work Benches Release”, Vol. 16,
SDC Publications.
9. Richard Eppler (1990), Airfoil Design and
Data.
10. Sham Tickoo and Deepak Maini (2006),
CATIA V5R16 for Engineers and
Designers.
11. Strang Gilbert (2003), Introduction to
Linear Algebra, 3rd Edition, p. 71.