Writing code to calculate a function for any user input array

I am working on a script to calculate the efficiency of a propellor at multiple conditions. I have written a function which I have confirmed works as intended however I have run into a roadblock in my attempt to run the function for user input variables. My script calls upon the user to input the variables below

PA, n, d, vt, hp, and isa.

I would like the user to be able to input any size array for each of these varaibles so as to generate a propellor efficiency # for all possible combintations of the variables entered. For example if the user input 3 values for PA, 3 values for vt, and 3 values for hp they would get 9 results back reflecting every combination of the aforementioned variables. I have begun by attempting to make this function with only two varaibles (n, and vt), however the code ceases to function properly if i input more than two values of n. The current version of this part of the code is below.

%Calculating Prop Efficiency (np) across all user given parameters
i=1;%vt counter
j=1;%PA counter
k=1;%(prop rpm counter)
l=1;%(isa counter)
jj=1;%(prop dia counter)
kk=1;%hp counter
ll=1%np counter
while ll<(numel(n)*numel(vt))%Overarching index for Propellor efficiency        
    for i=1:numel(vt)%Calculate Prop Efficiency at 1st RPM for all Velocities
        i
        np(ll)=calculatenpf(PropMap5,PropMap6,PropMap7,PropMap8,PropMap9,PropMap95,PropMap98,PA(j),n(k),isa(l),d(jj),hp(kk),vt(i))
        i=i+1
        ll=ll+1
    end
    if k<numel(n)%Check if prop RPM Values are still remaining
        k=k+1
        i=1
        continue
    end
    for i=1:numel(vt)% Calculate Propellor Efficiency at second RPM
        i
        k
        np(ll)=calculatenpf(PropMap5,PropMap6,PropMap7,PropMap8,PropMap9,PropMap95,PropMap98,PA(j),n(k),isa(l),d(jj),hp(kk),vt(i))
        i=i+1
        ll=ll+1
    end
end

[dpb]

The problem is really not at the upper level but in the calculation function -- it should be vectorized to handle array inputs. See examples at ndgrid -- although it only used 2D, the same idea works for higher dimensions as well.

Also, as a syntax issue, having a sequence of sequentially-named variables is a pretty good sign are not using MATLAB vectorized operations effectively -- these should almost certainly also be arrays.

But, we don't have enough of the details to progress beyond generalities...

Answer 1

[Voss]

How about something like this?

Nvt = numel(vt);
NPA = numel(PA);
Nn = numel(n);
Nisa = numel(isa);
Nd = numel(d);
Nhp = numel(hp);

ll = 1; %np counter

for i = 1:Nvt %vt counter
    for j = 1:NPA %PA counter
        for k = 1:Nn %(prop rpm counter)
            for l = 1:Nisa %(isa counter)
                for jj = 1:Nd %(prop dia counter)
                    for kk = 1:Nhp %hp counter
                        np(ll)=calculatenpf(PropMap5,PropMap6,PropMap7,PropMap8,PropMap9,PropMap95,PropMap98,PA(j),n(k),isa(l),d(jj),hp(kk),vt(i));
                        ll = ll+1;
                    end
                end
            end
        end
    end
end

Or instead of np being a vector, you can make it a 6-dimensional array, which may make it easier to keep track of which parameter values went into calculating each element of np:

Nvt = numel(vt);
NPA = numel(PA);
Nn = numel(n);
Nisa = numel(isa);
Nd = numel(d);
Nhp = numel(hp);

np = zeros(Nvt,NPA,Nn,Nisa,Nd,Nhp);

for i = 1:Nvt %vt counter
    for j = 1:NPA %PA counter
        for k = 1:Nn %(prop rpm counter)
            for l = 1:Nisa %(isa counter)
                for jj = 1:Nd %(prop dia counter)
                    for kk = 1:Nhp %hp counter
                        np(i,j,k,l,jj,kk)=calculatenpf(PropMap5,PropMap6,PropMap7,PropMap8,PropMap9,PropMap95,PropMap98,PA(j),n(k),isa(l),d(jj),hp(kk),vt(i));
                    end
                end
            end
        end
    end
end

[Voss]

@Andrew: Did this answer work for you?