Thus, the pressure and shear stress distributions over the airfoil generate an aerodynamic force.

However, this resultant force is replaced with two aerodynamic forces and one aerodynamic moment as shown by the vector in Figure 5.10. On the other word, the aerodynamic force can be resolved into two forces, perpendicular (lift) and parallel (drag) to the relative wind. The lift is always defined as the component of the aerodynamic force perpendicular to the relative wind. The drag is always defined as the component of the aerodynamic force parallel to the relative wind. 5.4.3. Characteristic Graphs of an Airfoil In the process of wing airfoil selection, we do not look at airfoil geometry only, or its pressure distribution. Instead, we examine the airfoil operational outputs that are more informative to satisfy design requirements. There are several graphs that illustrate the characteristics of each airfoil when compared to other airfoils in the wing airfoil selection process. These are mainly the variations of non-dimensionalized lift, drag, and pitching moment relative with angle of attack. Two aerodynamic forces and one aerodynamic pitching moment are usually nondimensionalized7 by dividing them to appropriate parameters as follows.
Cl l 1 UV 2 (C u 1) 2

(5.4)

Cd

d 1 UV 2 (C u 1) 2 m 1 UV 2 (C u 1) u C 2

(5.5)

Cm

(5.6)

where l, d, and m are lift, drag, and pitching moment of a two-dimensional airfoil. The area (C x 1) is assumed to be the airfoil chord times the unit span (b = 1). Thus, we evaluate the performance and characteristics of an airfoil by looking at the following graphs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The variations lift coefficient versus angle of attack The variations pitching moment coefficient versus angle of attack The variations of pitching moment coefficient versus lift coefficient The variations of drag coefficient versus lift coefficient The variations of lift-to-drag ratio versus angle of attack

These graphs have several critical features that are essential to the airfoil selection process. Lets first have a review on these graphs.

The technique was first introduced by Edger Buckingham (1867-1940) as Buckingham 3 Theorem. The details may be found in most Fluid Mechanics textbook.

Wing Design

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