SCWS Common Research Model. Static and dynamic rolling aerodynamics benchmark

By Yago Lopez Published 31 March 2026

The Second AIAA Stability and Control Prediction Workshop (S&CPW2) represents the industry gold standard for validating how CFD solvers predict aircraft stability-and-control behavior at low mach conditions. Built around the NASA/Boeing Common Research Model (CRM), this workshop provides a rigorous framework with both computational predictions and experimental data from NASA Langley’s 12-Foot Low-Speed Tunnel. S&CPW2 is the critical proving ground for establishing best practices in predicting dynamic derivatives and forced-motion aerodynamics. This validation demonstrates the capacity of Flow360 to bridge the gap between high-fidelity physics and industrial design cycles. The benchmark targets both static and dynamic rolling aerodynamics. The static analysis covers RANS cases from 0 to 20 degrees angle of attack at Mach 0.052 and Reynolds number based on mean aerodynamic chord of 200,000. The dynamic branch runs an unsteady SA-DDES rolling case at alpha 3 degrees, Mach 0.0358, and Reynolds number 140,000 with a 5 degree sinusoidal roll amplitude. The benchamrk compares reference aerodynamic coefficients versus alpha and compares changes in Cl and Cn against time-history and roll-phase reference data.

Comparison of Flow360 predictions against reference data. Click an image to expand.

Static rolling coefficients vs angle of attack

Static lift and drag vs angle of attack

Dynamic rolling time histories

Dynamic rolling coefficients vs roll phase