Reference Conditions

Generated from SU2 commit 6b54b78464 on 2026-10-23. Do not edit this page. Edit the comment above the option in Common/src/CConfig.cpp instead.

REF_ORIGIN_MOMENT_X

X Reference origin for moment computation

More in config_template.cfg: Reference origin for moment computation (m or in)

• Type: list of real numbers
• In config_template.cfg: REF_ORIGIN_MOMENT_X = 0.25
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Laminar-Turbulent Transition, Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Setup Guide: Steady RANS for External Aerodynamics, Setup Guide: Unsteady Flows and DES, Inviscid ONERA M6
• Used in 263 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (-0.5), config.cfg (-0.2473), inv_NACA0012.cfg (0.25)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 1579

REF_ORIGIN_MOMENT_Y

Y Reference origin for moment computation

• Type: list of real numbers
• In config_template.cfg: REF_ORIGIN_MOMENT_Y = 0.00
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Laminar-Turbulent Transition, Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Setup Guide: Steady RANS for External Aerodynamics, Setup Guide: Unsteady Flows and DES, Inviscid ONERA M6
• Used in 263 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (0.00), def_cylindrical.cfg (0.0), fem_NACA0012.cfg (0.50)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 1581

REF_ORIGIN_MOMENT_Z

Z Reference origin for moment computation

• Type: list of real numbers
• In config_template.cfg: REF_ORIGIN_MOMENT_Z = 0.00
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Laminar-Turbulent Transition, Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Setup Guide: Steady RANS for External Aerodynamics, Setup Guide: Unsteady Flows and DES, Inviscid ONERA M6
• Used in 263 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (0.00), def_cylindrical.cfg (0.0), configFlow.cfg (0)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 1583

REF_AREA

Reference area for force coefficients (0 implies automatic calculation)

More in config_template.cfg: Reference area for non-dimensional force coefficients (0 implies automatic calculation) (m^2 or in^2)

• Type: real number
• Default: 1.0
• In config_template.cfg: REF_AREA= 1.0
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Laminar-Turbulent Transition, Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Setup Guide: Steady RANS for External Aerodynamics, Setup Guide: Unsteady Flows and DES, Inviscid ONERA M6, Transitional Flat Plate
• Used in 272 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (1.0), config.cfg (1), inv_ONERAM6.cfg (0)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 1585

SEMI_SPAN

Wing semi-span (0 implies automatic calculation)

More in config_template.cfg: Aircraft semi-span (0 implies automatic calculation) (m or in)

• Type: real number
• Default: 0.0
• In config_template.cfg: SEMI_SPAN= 0.0
• Used in 4 test case files, for example: MFR_coupling.cfg (1.0), cosine_gust_zdir.cfg (1.5), unsteady_CHT_FlatPlate_Conf.cfg (0.0)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 1587

REF_LENGTH

Reference length for pitching, rolling, and yawing non-dimensional moment

More in config_template.cfg: Reference length for moment non-dimensional coefficients (m or in)

• Type: real number
• Default: 1.0
• In config_template.cfg: REF_LENGTH= 1.0
• Mentioned in: Setup Guide: Laminar-Turbulent Transition, Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Setup Guide: Steady RANS for External Aerodynamics, Setup Guide: Unsteady Flows and DES, Inviscid ONERA M6
• Used in 235 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (1.0), config.cfg (1), turb_ONERAM6.cfg (0.64607)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 1589

REF_SHARP_EDGES

Reference coefficient for detecting sharp edges

More in config_template.cfg: Reference coefficient for detecting sharp edges (3.0 by default).

• Type: real number
• Default: 3.0
• In config_template.cfg: REF_SHARP_EDGES = 3.0
• Mentioned in: Slope Limiters and Shock Resolution
• Used in 33 test case files, for example: inv_ONERAM6.cfg (3.0)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 1591

REF_VELOCITY

Reference velocity (incompressible only)

• Type: real number
• Default: -1.0
• In config_template.cfg: REF_VELOCITY= 1.0
• Used in 2 test case files, for example: dsma661_sa_config.cfg (1.0)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 1593

REF_VISCOSITY

! Reference viscosity (incompressible only)

• Type: real number
• Default: 1.0
• In config_template.cfg: REF_VISCOSITY= 1.0
• Used in 2 test case files, for example: dsma661_sa_config.cfg (1.0)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 1595

REF_DIMENSIONALIZATION

Type of mesh motion

More in config_template.cfg: Compressible flow non-dimensionalization (DIMENSIONAL, FREESTREAM_PRESS_EQ_ONE, FREESTREAM_VEL_EQ_MACH, FREESTREAM_VEL_EQ_ONE)

• Type: one of the values below
• Values: DIMENSIONAL, FREESTREAM_PRESS_EQ_ONE, FREESTREAM_VEL_EQ_MACH, FREESTREAM_VEL_EQ_ONE, INITIAL_VALUES, REFERENCE_VALUES
• Default: DIMENSIONAL
• In config_template.cfg: REF_DIMENSIONALIZATION= DIMENSIONAL
• Mentioned in: Physical Definition, Setup Guide: Laminar-Turbulent Transition, Setup Guide: Non-Ideal Compressible Flows, Setup Guide: Shape Optimization with the Discrete Adjoint, Setup Guide: Steady RANS for External Aerodynamics, Setup Guide: Turbomachinery and 2 more
• Used in 141 test case files, for example: aeroelastic_NACA64A010.cfg (DIMENSIONAL), config.cfg (FREESTREAM_VEL_EQ_MACH), inv_ONERAM6.cfg (FREESTREAM_VEL_EQ_ONE)
• Code: CConfig.cpp line 1597