DESIGN OF CAMBERED AEROFOIL FOR UNMANNED AERIAL

VEHICLE BASED ON SUBSONIC WIND TUNNEL TEST

By
Kh. Md. Faisal
Md. Faisal Kabir
Nahian Al Hossain Basunia

A Thesis
Submitted to the
Department of Aeronautical Engineering
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
Of
B.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering

DEPARTMENT OF AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

MILITARY INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
MIRPUR CANTONMENT, DHAKA-1216, BANGLADESH
DECEMBER-2012

Approved By:
Major Mahbubur Rahman Khan-Thesis Supervisor
Instructor, Class-B, Department of Aeronautical Engineering

Signature: _________________________________________

II

Declaration
This thesis or any part of this thesis has not been submitted elsewhere for obtaining any degree.

III

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Tables.................... VI
List of Figures... IX
List of symbols.... XV
Acknowledgement................ XVII
Abstract... XVIII

1. Introduction..... 1
1.1.
Aerofoil Development 2
1.2.
Historical Evolution................................ 5
2. Theory... 16
2.1.
Aerofoil. 16
2.2.
Aerofoil Design Characteristics 17
2.3.
Types. 19
2.4.
Aerofoil Terminology... 20
2.5.
Aerodynamic Forces. 21
2.6.
Low-Speed Aerodynamics 22
2.7.
Characterizing Aerofoil Performance... 23
3. Wind Tunnel Theory. 25
3.1.
Calibration of Wind Tunnel.. 25
3.2.
Calibration of AFA3 balance 26
3.3.
Drag Calibration 27
3.4.
Fore/Aft Calibration.. 28
3.5.
Moment Calibration.. 29
4. Aerofoil Selection. 30
4.1.
Aerofoil Design Consideration. 30
4.2.
Performance Requirement 33
5. Experimental Investigation... 35
5.1.
Data for Aerofoil-1........................... 35
IV

5.2.
5.3.

Data for Aerofoil-2... 53

Data for Aerofoil-3... 71

6. Additional Investigation 90
6.1.
Investigation of Cm- curves at different Reynolds Number.... 90
6.2.
Investigation of Cd- curves at different Reynolds Number..... 96
6.3.
Investigation of Cl- curves at different Reynolds Number... 102
6.4.
Investigation of Variation Maximum Lift Co-Efficient
With Maximum Camber of the 3 Aerofoils.... 108
6.5.
Investigation of Variation Maximum Lift Co-Efficient
With Maximum Thickness of the 3 Aerofoils.... 113
6.6.
Investigation of Variation Maximum Lift Co-Efficient
With Reynolds Number.. 118
6.7.
Investigation of Cl Values At Different Angles of Attack.. 121
6.8.
Investigation of variation of Cl/Cd values at different Angles of Attack.... 123
7. Discussions & Recommendation.... 129
7.1.
Discussions..... 129
7.2.
Recommendations for future work..... 131

8. References........................... 132
9. Bibliography... 133

List of Tables

Table 5.1: Geometric Specification of Aerofoil-1.... 36

Table 5.2: Experimental Data for Aerofoil-1.... 36
Table 5.3: Experimental data for Aerofoil-1 at Re=200000..... 40
Table 5.4: Experimental data for Aerofoil-1 at Re=300000. 43
Table 5.5: Experimental data for Aerofoil-1 at Re=400000. 46
Table 5.6: Experimental data for Aerofoil-1 at Re=500000..... 49
Table 5.7: Performance Comparison of Aerofoil-1.. 52
Table 5.8: Geometric Specification of Aerofoil-2.... 54
Table 5.9: Experimental Data for Aerofoil-2 54
Table 5.10: Experimental data for Aerofoil-2 at Re=200000... 58
Table 5.11: Experimental data for Aerofoil-2 at Re=300000... 61
Table 5.12: Experimental data for Aerofoil-2 at Re=400000... 64
Table 5.13: Experimental data for Aerofoil-2 at Re=500000... 67
Table 5.14: Performance Comparison of Aerofoil-2.... 70
Table 5.15: Geometric Specification of Aerofoil-3.. 72
Table 5.16: Experimental Data for Aerofoil-3.. 73
Table 5.17: Experimental data for Aerofoil-3 at Re=200000... 76

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Table 5.18: Experimental data for Aerofoil-3 at Re=300000... 79

Table 5.19: Experimental data for Aerofoil-3 at Re=400000... 83
Table 5.20: Experimental data for Aerofoil-3 at Re=500000... 86
Table 5.21: Performance Comparison of Aerofoil-3.... 88
Table 6.1: Variation of Cm with at: Re = 100000.. 90
Table 6.2: Variation of Cm with at: Re = 200000.. 91
Table 6.3: Variation of Cm with at: Re = 300000.. 92
Table 6.4: Variation of Cm with at: Re = 400000.. 93
Table 6.5: Variation of Cm with at: Re = 500000.. 94
Table 6.6: Variation of Cd with at: Re = 100000... 96
Table 6.7: Variation of Cd with at: Re = 200000... 97
Table 6.8: Variation of Cd with at: Re = 300000... 98
Table 6.9: Variation of Cd with at: Re = 400000... 99
Table 6.10: Variation of Cd with at: Re = 500000... 100
Table 6.11: Variation of Cl with at: Re = 100000 102
Table 6.12: Variation of Cl with at: Re = 200000.... 103
Table 6.13: Variation of Cl with at: Re = 30000.. 104
Table 6.14: Variation of Cl with at: Re = 400000.... 105
Table 6.15: Variation of Cl with at: Re = 500000.... 106
Table 6.16: Variation of Cl max with camber at Re = 100000... 108
VII

Table 6.17: Variation of Cl max with camber at Re = 200000... 109

Table 6.18: Variation of Cl max with camber at Re = 300000... 110
Table 6.19: Variation of Cl max with camber at Re = 400000.. 111
Table 6.20: Variation of Cl max with camber at Re = 500000.. 112
Table 6.21: Variation of Cl max with maximum thickness at Re = 100000. 113
Table 6.22: Variation of Cl max with maximum thickness at Re = 200000..... 114
Table 6.23: Variation of Cl max with maximum thickness at Re = 300000. 115
Table 6.24: Variation of Cl max with maximum thickness at Re = 400000. 116
Table 6.25: Variation of Cl max with maximum thickness at Re = 500000. 117
Table 6.26: Variation of Cl max with Reynolds Number of Aerofoil-1... 118
Table 6.27: Variation of Cl max with Reynolds Number of Aerofoil-2... 119
Table 6.28: Variation of Cl max with Reynolds Number of Aerofoil-3 120
Table 6.29: Variation of Cl values with Reynolds Number for the 3 Aerofoils at 7 AOA... 121
Table 6.30: Variation of Cl values with Reynolds Number for the 3 Aerofoils at 5 AOA... 121
Table 6.31: Variation of Cl values with Reynolds Number for the 3 Aerofoils at 11 AOA..... 122
Table 6.32: variation of Cl/Cd values at different Angles of Attack at Re= 100000.. 123
Table 6.33: variation of Cl/Cd values at different Angles of Attack at Re= 200000.. 124
Table 6.34: variation of Cl/Cd values at different Angles of Attack at Re= 300000.. 125
Table 6.35: variation of Cl/Cd values at different Angles of Attack at Re= 400000.. 126
Table 6.36: variation of Cl/Cd values at different Angles of Attack at Re= 500000.. 127
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List of Figures

Fig 1.1: The earliest aerofoil design at last 19th century................................................................ 3

Fig 1.2: Aerofoil variation before World War II.............................................................................
4
Fig 2.1: Three Basic types of Aerofoils.... 19
Figure 2.2: Aerofoil geometry.. 20
Figure 2.3: Aerodynamic forces.... 22
Fig 3.1: Drag Calibration.. 27
Fig 3.2: Fore/Aft Calibration.... 28
Fig 3.3: Moment Calibration..... 29
Fig 5.1: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-1 at Re=100000.... 37
Fig 5.2: Cd Vs for aerofoil 1 at Re=100000 ... 37
Fig 5.3: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-1 at Re=100000.. 38
Fig 5.4: L/D Vs for Aerofoil-1 at Re=100000... 38
Fig 5.5: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-1 at Re=100000.. 39
Fig 5.6: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-1 at Re=200000.... 40
Fig 5.7: Cd Vs for aerofoil 1 at Re=200000... 40
Fig 5.8: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-1 at Re=200000.. 41
Fig 5.9: L/D Vs for aerofoil 1 at Re=200000 41

IX

Fig 5.10: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-1 at Re=200000... 42

Fig 5.11: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-1 at Re=300000.. 43
Fig 5.12: Cd Vs for Aerofoil 1 at Re=300000.... 43
Fig 5.13: L/D Vs for Aerofoil 1 at Re=300000..... 44
Fig 5.14: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-1 at Re=300000.... 44
Fig 5.15: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-1 at Re=300000.... 45
Fig 5.16: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-1 at Re=400000.. 46
Fig 5.17: Cd Vs for aerofoil-1 at Re=400000 46
Fig 5.18: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-1 at Re=400000.... 47
Fig 5.19: L/D Vs for aerofoil-1 at Re=400000.. 47
Fig 5.20: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-1 at Re=400000 48
Fig 5.21: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-1 at Re=500000.. 49
Fid 5.22: Cd Vs for Aerofoil-1 at Re=500000.... 49
Fig 5.23: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-1 at Re=500000.... 50
Fig 5.24: L/D Vs for aerofoil 1 at Re=500000.. 50
Fig 5.25: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-1 at Re=500000.... 51
Fig 5.26: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-2 at Re=100000.. 55
Fig 5.27: Cd Vs for aerofoil 2 at Re=100000.... 55
Fig 5.28: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-2 at Re=100000... 56
Fig 5.29: L/D Vs for Aerofoil-2 at Re=100000..... 56
X

Fig 5.30: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-2 at Re=100000... 57

Fig 5.31: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-2 at Re=200000.. 58
Fig 5.32: Cd Vs for aerofoil 2 at Re=200000..... 58
Fig 5.33: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-2 at Re=200000.... 59
Fig 5.34: L/D Vs for aerofoil 2 at Re=200000.. 59
Fig 5.35: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-2 at Re=200000... 60
Fig 5.36: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-2 at Re=300000.. 61
Fig 5.37: Cd Vs for Aerofoil 2 at Re=300000.... 61
Fig 5.38: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-2 at Re=300000.... 62
Fig 5.39: L/D Vs for Aerofoil 2 at Re=300000..... 62
Fig 5.40: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-2 at Re=300000 63
Fig 5.41: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-2 at Re=400000..... 64
Fig 5.42: Cd Vs for aerofoil-2 at Re=400000.... 64
Fig 5.43: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-2 at Re=400000.... 65
Fig 5.44: Cl/Cd Vs for aerofoil-2 at Re=400000.... 65
Fig 5.45: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-2 at Re=400000.... 66
Fig 5.46: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-2 at Re=500000.. 67
Fig 5.47: Cd Vs for Aerofoil-2 at Re=500000... 67
Fig 5.48: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-2 at Re=500000 68
Fig 5.49: L/D Vs for aerofoil 2 at Re=500000.. 68
XI

Fig 5.50: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-2 at Re=500000... 69

Fig 5.51: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-3 at Re=100000.. 73
Fig 5.52: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-3 at Re=100000.... 74
Fig 5.53: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-3 at Re=100000.... 74
Fig 5.54: Cl/Cd Vs for aerofoil 3 at Re=100000.... 75
Fig 5.55: Cd Vs for aerofoil 3 at Re=100000. 75
Fig 5.56: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-3 at Re=200000.. 76
Fig 5.57: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-3 at Re=200000... 77
Fig 5.58: Cd Vs for aerofoil 3 at Re=200000..... 77
Fig 5.59: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-3 at Re=200000.... 78
Fig 5.60: Cl/Cd Vs for aerofoil 3 at Re=200000.... 78
Fig 5.61: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-3 at Re=300000.. 80
Fig 5.62: Cd Vs for aerofoil 3 at Re=300000. 80
Fig 5.63: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-3 at Re=300000.... 81
Fig 5.64: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-3 at Re=300000... 81
Fig 5.65: Cl/Cd Vs for aerofoil 3 at Re=300000.... 82
Fig 5.66: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-3 at Re=400000.. 83
Fig 5.67: Cd Vs for aerofoil 3 at Re=400000..... 83
Fig 5.68: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-3 at Re=400000.... 84
Fig 5.69: Cl/Cd Vs for aerofoil 3 at Re=400000 84
XII

Fig 5.70: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-3 at Re=400000... 85

Fig 5.71: Cl Vs plot of Aerofoil-3 at Re=500000.. 86
Fig 5.72: Cd Vs for aerofoil 3 at Re=500000..... 86
Fig 5.73: Cm Vs of Aerofoil-3 at Re=500000.... 87
Fig 5.74: Cl/Cd Vs for aerofoil 3 at Re=500000 87
Fig 5.75: Cl Vs Cd of Aerofoil-3 at Re=500000... 88
Fig 6.1: Graphical plot of variation of Cm with at: Re = 100000.. 91
Fig 6.2: Graphical plot of variation of Cm with at: Re = 200000.. 92
Fig 6.3: Graphical plot of variation of Cm with at: Re = 300000.. 93
Fig 6.4: Graphical plot of variation of Cm with at: Re = 400000.. 94
Fig 6.5: Graphical plot of variation of Cm with at: Re = 500000.. 95
Fig 6.6: Graphical plot of variation of Cd with at: Re = 100000... 97
Fig 6.7: Graphical plot of variation of Cd with at: Re = 200000... 98
Fig 6.8: Graphical plot of variation of Cd with at: Re = 300000... 99
Fig 6.9: Graphical plot of variation of Cd with at: Re = 400000. 100
Fig 6.10: Graphical plot of variation of Cd with at: Re = 500000... 101
Fig 6.11: Graphical plot of variation of Cl with at: Re = 100000 103
Fig 6.12: Graphical plot of variation of Cl with at: Re = 200000.... 104
Fig 6.13: Graphical plot of variation of Cl with at: Re = 300000.... 105
Fig 6.14: Graphical plot of variation of Cl with at: Re = 400000.... 106
XIII

Fig 6.15: Graphical plot of variation of Cl with at: Re = 500000 107

Fig 6.16: Graphical plot of variation of Cl max with camber at Re = 100000...... 108
Fig 6.17: Graphical plot of variation of Cl max with camber at Re = 200000...... 109
Fig 6.18: Graphical plot of variation of Cl max with camber at Re = 300000...... 110
Fig 6.19: Graphical plot of variation of Cl max with camber at Re = 400000.. 111
Fig 6.20: Graphical plot of variation of Cl max with camber at Re = 500000...... 112
Fig 6.21: Graphical plot of variation of Cl max with maximum thickness at Re = 100000. 113
Fig 6.22: Graphical plot of variation of Cl max with maximum thickness at Re = 200000..... 114
Fig 6.23: Graphical plot of variation of Cl max with maximum thickness at Re = 300000..... 115
Fig 6.24: Graphical plot of variation of Cl max with maximum thickness at Re = 400000..... 116
Fig 6.25: Graphical plot of variation of Cl max with maximum thickness at Re = 500000.. 117
Fig 6.26: Graphical Plot of Variation of Cl max with Reynolds Number of Aerofoil-1... 118
Fig 6.27: Graphical Plot of Variation of Cl max with Reynolds Number of Aerofoil-2... 119
Fig 6.28: Graphical Plot of Variation of Cl max with Reynolds Number of Aerofoil-3... 120
Figure 6.29: Graphical Plot of variation of Cl/Cd values at different AOA at Re= 100000... 124
Figure 6.30: Graphical Plot of variation of Cl/Cd values at different AOA at Re= 200000... 125
Figure 6.31: Graphical Plot of variation of Cl/Cd values at different AOA at Re= 300000126
Figure 6.32: Graphical Plot of variation of Cl/Cd values at different AOA at Re= 400000... 127
Figure 6.33: Graphical Plot of variation of Cl/Cd values at different AOA at Re= 500000128

XIV

List of Symbols

Lift force
Drag force
M

Pitching moment
Angle of attack
Free stream air density
Free stream dynamic pressure
Free stream velocity
Coefficient of lift
Coefficient of drag
Pitching moment coefficient
Normal force coefficient
Reynolds number
Specific fuel consumption

chord
Dynamic viscosity

X (U)

Distance along the upper surface of aerofoil in X axis

Y (U)

Distance along the upper surface of aerofoil in Y axis

XV

X (L)

Distance along the lower surface of aerofoil in X axis

Y (L)

Distance along the upper surface of aerofoil in Y axis

A-1

Aerofoil-1

A-2

Aerofoil-2

A-3

Aerofoil-3

C max

Maximum Camber

Cl max

Maximum loft co-efficient

Tmax

Maximum thickness

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It gives us much pleasure to recall with cordial reverence and deepest of gratitude the
indispensable, constant encouragement and unparallel stimulation that influenced untiring
efforts. Knowledgeable advice and valuable suggestions of our respectable thesis advisor Major
Mahbub Sir benefited us highly throughout the progress of this study. It could have been
impossible on our part to conduct this thesis and project without the effective guidance of his
methodological direction at each stage from the selection of the entire tropic to the writing down
the project.

Thanks to almighty Allah for making things and situation congenial and favourable for us to
complete the task. We are grateful to many individuals for the completion of the undergraduate
project and thesis program and report successfully. Military Institute of science & Technology
(MIST) provided necessary funding, enormous support and guidance for our undergraduate
project and thesis program.

At last warm wishes and thanks to our project members without whose continuous support it was
impossible to build up this project. The project really needed that friendly co-operation.

XVII

ABSTRACT
Aerofoils have become an integral aspect of human flight as it has evolved over the last
century. As the design of each aerofoil determines many aspects of its use in the real world,
all significant characteristics must be analyzed prior to implementation. The aerodynamic
effects of pressure, drag, lift, and pitching moment were used to evaluate the behaviour of
the cambered aerofoils. In this experiment design of cambered aerofoil is done to make an UAV
on trial and error basis. With the help of a subsonic wind tunnel lift, drag, pitching moment and
other necessary data were then recorded to analyze and evaluate cambered aerofoils and to find
the most suitable one to meet our purpose.

XVIII