Aerodynamic design and analysis are key tasks in fan development. Classical semi-empirical aerodynamic design and performance prediction methods increasingly compete with optimization based methods. Steady-state CFD simulation represent the current state-of-the-art for performance prediction and design optimization. Despite the undoubted progress in the development of computational methods, the experimental build and test of new designs remains indispensable. Experimental test data is not only a form of design verification, but provides an insight into the dominant loss mechanism at plat within the blade-to-blade passage.

Following Fan 2015, the Fan 2018 Fan Aerodynamics Track provides a platform for the presentation and discussion of new computational and experimental methods that advance the state-of-the-art in air movement fan design. Papers combining new computational methods and experimental results will be particularly welcome. The track includes papers specifically focused on the following topics: