feat(intro): basic intro

contents/intro.tex

@@ -13,5 +13,48 @@
 \chapter*{Introduction}
 \label{chap:intro}
 
+\rotare is a feature-rich and open-source implementation of the Blade Element
+Momentum Theory (BEMT) in \matlab.
 
+This software can be used for the analysis and the design of all kinds of
+rotors: helicopters main/tail rotors, aircraft propellers, wind/tidal turbines,
+etc.
 
+\rotare was developed primarily for teaching purposes at the
+\href{\amURL}{University of Liege} (Belgium) by \href{\tlambertURL}{Thomas
+Lambert} during his Ph.D. The code was later extended to add different solvers,
+many extensions to the base methodology and to support more complex geometries.
+It is now a complete analysis tool that can be used in a wide range of
+applications outside of academia.
+
+
+The present documentation is divided in two main parts:
+\begin{enumerate}
+  \item \textbf{The user manual} (Part~\ref{part:user}), with practical details
+    about the installation and usage of the code.
+  \item \textbf{The technical manual} (Part~\ref{part:tech}), with details
+    regarding the code architecture and all the theory underlying the
+    implementation.
+\end{enumerate}
+
+\section*{Features} % (fold)
+\label{sec:features}
+
+\rotare currently supports blade geometries with varying twist, chord and
+airfoil. It can either model single rotors in isolation or coaxial rotors.
+Single rotors can either be studied in steady condition (\eg hovering
+helicopter), axial flow (\eg aircraft propeller, wind turbines) or oblique
+flow\footnote{Only for single rotor cases.}
+(\eg tiltrotor)
+
+Multiple corrections and extensions have been implemented to the base
+methodology, such as: tip/hub losses, compressibility effects, spinner effects,
+etc (see Chapter~\ref{chap:tech:ext}).
+
+Different solvers for the BEMT equations are implemented in the software (see
+Chapter~\ref{chap:tech:solvers} for complete description). While they all solve
+the same initial set of equations, they differ on the methodology for the
+resolution or the hypotheses made to solve the equations. Even though some
+solvers are clearly superior to others, this redundant implementation is
+especially useful for teaching purposes. Indeed, it allows to compare the
+quality of the results, the convergence or the effect of additional hypotheses.