A two element laminar flow airfoil optimized for cruise /
Numerical and experimental results are presented for a new
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1994.
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| Subjects: |
| Summary: | Numerical and experimental results are presented for a new two element, fixed geometry natural laminar flow airfoil optimized for cruise Reynolds numbers on the order of three million. The airfoil design consists of a primary element and an independent secondary element with a primary to secondary chord ratio of three to one. The airfoil was designed to improve the cruise lift-to-drag ratio while maintaining an appropriate landing capability when compared to conventional airfoils. The airfoil was numerically developed utilizing the NASA Langley Multi-Component Airfoil Analysis computer code running on a personal computer. Numerical results show a nearly 11.75% decrease in overall wing drag with no increase in stall speed at sailplane cruise conditions when compared to a wing based on an efficient single element airfoil. Section surface pressure, wake survey, transition location, and flow visualization results were obtained in the Texas A&M University Low Speed Wind Tunnel. Comparisons between the numerical and experimental data, the effects of the relative position and angle of the two elements, and Reynolds number variations from 8xlO 5 to 3xlO 6 for the optimum geometry case are presented. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major subject: Aerospace Engineering". |
| Physical Description: | xvii, 157 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |