OpenVSP Comp Geom
The information in this section cover the Comp Geom analysis in OpenVSP and describes some use cases and functions of the tool. You will also see a demonstration of how subsurfaces affect the solution.
Encyclopedia
Updated Sep 30, 2025
Introduction and Use
The Comp Geom tool is a geometry intersection and analysis algorithm that will compute the theoretical and wetted areas and volumes of your OpenVSP model, producing an intersected, triangulated mesh. Comp Geom is widely integrated into other analyses and functions within OpenVSP such as the Parasite Drag tool.
Component subsurfaces may be included in the analysis to separate and tag regions of a body or wing. A semi-span or half-mesh model may be generated normal to the XZ plane, if desired.
Users may choose between the “Normal” set, which analyzes the geometry surfaces as thick bodies, or the “Degen” set, which degenerates the included components to their camber or plate surface representation before analyzing as thin surfaces. This enables the generation of hybrid thick/thin meshes.
Comp Geom is also one of the OpenVSP analyses and functions that will operate on imported meshes.
Comp Geom itself is a versatile tool and can help identify poor intersections, overlapping surfaces, or high aspect ratio (sliver) triangles that will cause problems with exports or solvers. Comp Geom is also useful for creating intersected, watertight meshes for export to 3D printing formats such as STL.
Brandon Litherland
Aerospace Engineer