CAIRO UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
AEROSPACE DEPARTMENT
THIRD YEAR STUDENTS
FIRST TERM

Course Title: AERODYNAMICS (A)

Course Code: AER 301 A
PROF. Dr. MOHAMED MADBOULI ABDELRAHMAN
1

Thin Airfoil
Theory
2

Thin Airfoil Theory

Assume steady, 2-D, non viscous, irrotational,
incompressible flow
The solution of the airfoil problem may be obtained as
the superposition of the solutions of the following two
simple problems:

1) Cambered airfoil with angle of attack

2) Symmetric airfoil at zero angle of attack
y
y(x)

Thin Airfoil Theory

Assume steady, 2-D, non viscous, irrotational,
incompressible flow
The solution of the airfoil problem may be obtained as
the superposition of the solutions of the following two
simple problems:

1) Cambered airfoil with angle of attack

2) Symmetric airfoil at zero angle of attack
y
y(x)

Thin Airfoil Theory

(Cambered airfoil with angle of attack)
The flow field may be represented by a distribution of vortices
(x) along the x-axis on the chord line
The (x) distribution can be determine by applying the
boundary condition (velocity must be tangent to the camber)
For small angle of attack and small camber the boundary
condition can be written as dy/dx + v/V where v is
the velocity component in y-direction
y

1 c
dy

(
)dx1

dx
2V 0 x1 x

y(x)
5

Thin Airfoil Theory

To solve this integral-differential equation

1 c
dy

(

)dx1
dx
2V 0 x1 x
c

Change the variables x and x1 to and 1 with x 2 ( 1 cos )

Assume can be written in the following series form as

( 1 cos 1 )
2V [ A0
An sin( n 1 )]
1
sin 1
After substitution, the governing equation will be

dy
1 A0 ( 1 cos 1 )
1 An sin( n 1 ) sin 1

)d 1
d 1
dx
cos cos 1
0 cos cos 1
0

Using the following identities

sin( n 1 ) sin 1
d 1 cos( n )
cos cos 1

cos( n 1 )
sin( n )
d

0 cos cos 1 1
sin

Thin Airfoil Theory

we can prove that

dy
A0 An sin( n )
1
dx

To calculate the coefficients A0 and An for n = 1 to

we integrate this equation as

dy

0 dx d 0 A0 1 An sin( n

dy

0 dx cos( m )d 0 A0 1 An sin( n

) d

) cos( m )d

Thin Airfoil Theory

and using the following identities

cos( n ) cos( m )d 0

when( n m )

cos( n ) cos( m )d (

) when( n m )

we can prove that

A0 (

&

An (

)
0

)
0

dy
d
dx

dy
cos( n )d
dx

Thin Airfoil Theory

As a conclusion, if we have the camber line equation of an
airfoil section given by y = f(x) then we can calculate the
distribution of vortices (x) along the x-axis by
( 1 cos )
2V [ A0
An sin( n )]
1
sin
where

c
( 1 cos )
2

with A0 and An are calculated by

A0 (

&

)
0

dy
d
dx

dy
An (
)
cos( n )d
0 dx
9

Thin Airfoil Theory

The lift force
c

L V V dx
0

( 1 cos )
An sin( n )]
where 2V [ A0
1
sin
We can
prove that
Then

where

and

c
( 1 cos )
2

A1 1

L V c A0
V2 C L c 1
2 2

C L 2 ( A0 A1 / 2 ) 2 ( 0 )
1

dy
0 ( ) (
)( 1 cos )d
0 dx

10

Thin Airfoil Theory

The pitching moment about the leading edge point
c

M LE V xdx
0

where
( 1 cos )
2V [ A0
An sin( n )]
1
sin

and
We can prove that

M LE
then

c
( 1 cos )
2

A2 1
2 2
V c A0 A1 V2C M
4
2 2

LE

C M LE ( / 2 )( A0 A1 A2 / 2 )

c 1c
11

Thin Airfoil Theory

The pitching moment about any arbitrary reference point

Neglecting the moment contribution due to drag, the pitching

moment about any arbitrary reference point can be related by
the pitching moment about the leading edge point by the
following equation

C M x C M LE

x
CL
c

12

Thin Airfoil Theory

Determination of the center of pressure point

The center of pressure point is defined as that point about which the
pitching moment is zero. Neglecting the moment contribution due to
drag, it can be seen that
xcp
C M cp C M LE C L
c
0

then

x
cp C M LE
C
c
L

1

(A A )

2
4 4C L 1

13

Thin Airfoil Theory

Determination of the aerodynamic center point

A very important reference point on an airfoil is the aerodynamic center.

The aerodynamic center is defined as that point about which the
variation of the pitching moment with angle of attack is zero. Neglecting
the moment contribution due to drag, it can be seen that

C M a c C M LE
Then

xac
CL

C Mac C M LE C L xac

C M
x

ac
LE

C
c

14

Thin Airfoil Theory

Determination of the aerodynamic center point
The aerodynamic center (point
about which the pitching moment
is independent on the angle of
attack) can be calculated using any
arbitrary reference point as
C Mac C M x

Then

xac x
CL

C Mac C M x C L xac x

0 &

x x C M
x
ac
c c C

Using experimental data of CM versus CL it is possible to compute the

location of the aerodynamic center xac. For low subsonic flow it is
found that the aerodynamic center is at the quarter chord point. 15

Thin Airfoil Theory

The pitching moment coefficients and center of pressure

C M LE ( / 2 )( A0 A1 A2 / 2 )
and

C M c / 4 ( / 4 )( A1 A2 )
and

cp 1

4C
c

4
L

( A A )

1
2
16

Thin Airfoil Theory

Using the small perturbation for thin airfoil the
velocity on the airfoil surface can be approximated by
If

Vu V u and Vl V u
Vu

then

and
using B.E.
then
and

Vl

2u u
2u

1 V
V
1 V

2u u
2u

V
V

1
1
1
2
2
p u Vu p V p l Vl2
2
2
2

pl pu V 2u V

2u

17

Thin Airfoil Theory

The velocity distribution over thin airfoil
The velocity distribution over the upper and lower surface of a thin
airfoil can be calculated by

Vupper V

where

and Vlower V

( 1 cos )
2V [ A0
An sin( n )]
1
sin
and

c
( 1 cos )
2
18

Thin Airfoil Theory

The pressure coefficient can be calculated using
Bernoulli equation
The pressure distribution over the upper and lower surface of a thin
airfoil can be calculated by
pu

or

C pu

1
1
1
Vu2 p V2 pl Vl 2
2
2
2

Vu
1
V

Vu V

where

and
with

Vl
1
V

and

C pl

and

Vl V

( 1 cos )
2V [ A0
An sin( n )]
1
sin
x

c
( 1 cos )
2

19

Thin Airfoil Theory

The chord-wise velocity distribution
Vu ,l V

The chord-wise pressure distribution

pl pu V ( Vu Vl ) V
C p ( C p C p ) ( 2 / V )
lu

where

( 1 cos )
2V [ A0
An sin( n )]
1
sin
and

c
( 1 cos )
2
20

Thin Airfoil Theory

For symmetric airfoil (dy/dx=0), the vortex strength is
where

then

and

where

Cp (Cpl Cpu ) (2 / V )

21

Thin Airfoil Theory

22

Thin Airfoil Theory

For a zero thickness cambered airfoil "y(x)" placed in a free
stream velocity "V" with an angle of attack "" the flow-field
may be presented by a the following distribution of vortices
"(x)" along the chord line "c" as
( 1 cos )
2V [ A0
An sin( n )]
1
sin
By applying the boundary condition (velocity tangent to the
camber line)

dy
A0 An cos( n )
1
dx
where

c
x ( 1 cos )
2

with x = 0 at the L.E. point and x = c at the T.E. point.

23

Thin Airfoil Theory

dy
A0 An cos( n )
1
dx

The coefficients A0 & An for n = 1, 2, 3, . are given by

A0 (

where

I0

) and An

2 In

for n 1 to

dy
dy
I0 (
)d and I n (
) cos( n )d
dx
dx
0
0

for n 1 to

The aerodynamic characteristics for this airfoil can be

determined by:
A
C L 2 [ A0 1 ]
2
( C M )LE

A
[ A0 A1 2 ]
2
2

( C M )c / 4

[ A1 A2 ]

A1
]
2
1
( A1 A2 )
)

4
( 4C L )

0 [ A0
(

x cp
c

xa c
1
)
c
4

24

Thin Airfoil Theory

dy
A0 An cos( n )
1
dx
The aerodynamic characteristics for this airfoil can be
determined in terms of Io & In by:

C L 2 [ I 0 I 1 ]

( I0 I1 )

1
( I1 I 2 )
( C M )LE [ I 0 2 I 1 I 2 ] & ( xcp ) 1
2
c
4 4 ( I 0 I 1 )
1
x
1
( C M )c / 4 [ I 1 I 2 ]
( ac )
2
c
4

where
Vu V

&Vl V

& pl pu V ( Vu Vl ) V
25

26

Thin Airfoil Theory

For camber line airfoil given by the following 2 equations:y1
x
x
x
a0 a1 ( ) a 2 ( ) 2 a3 ( ) 3
c
c
c
c

x
0( )m
c

y2
x
x
x
b0 b1 ( ) b2 ( ) 2 b3 ( ) 3
c
c
c
c

x
m ( ) 1
c

The integrations I0, I1 and I2 can be calculated by

I 0 [t 20 ] ( m )[t10 t 20 ] (sin m )[t11 t 21 ] (

sin(2 m )
)[t12 t 22 ]
2

sin(2 m )
sin(3 m )
t
t

I1 ( )t 21 ( m )[t11 t 21 ] (sin m )[t10 t 20 12 22 ] [

][t11 t 21 ] [
][t12 t 22 ]
2
2
2 2
4
6

sin m
sin(2 m )
sin(3 m )
sin(4 m )

I 2 ( )[t 22 ] ( m )[t12 t 22 ] (
)[t11 t 21 ] [
][t10 t 20 ] [
][t11 t 21 ] [
][t12 t 22 ]
2
2
2
2
6
8

with

cos m 1 2m
t 20 b1 b2

9
t10 a1 a2 a3
8
9
b3
8

3
t11 a2 a3
2

t 21 b2

3
b3
2

3
t12 a3
8
t 22

3
b3
8

27

Thin Airfoil Theory

Flat plate
For a flat plate wing section airfoil where the mean camber line equation is
(y/c) = 0 for 0 =< (x/c) =< 1

Using thin airfoil theory we can calculate the following

the zero lift angle of attack o = 0 rad = 0o,
the pitching moment coefficient at the aerodynamic center (Cm)ac = 0,
When the angle of attack is =8o ,
the lift coefficient CL = 0.8773,
the pitching moment coefficient at the leading edge (Cm)LE = 0.2193
the center of pressure (xc.p/c) = 0.25
the aerodynamic center (xac/c) = 0.25

28

Thin Airfoil Theory

NACA 25012
The NACA 25012 wing section airfoil has a mean camber line given by
(y/c) = 0.5383 (x/c)3 - 0.6315 (x/c)2 + 0.2147 (x/c) for 0 =< (x/c) =< 0.391
(y/c) = 0.0322 (1 - x/c )
for 0.391 =< (x/c) =< 1

Using thin airfoil theory we can calculate the following

the zero lift angle of attack o = 0.0259 rad = 1.483o,
the pitching moment coefficient at the aerodynamic center (Cm)ac = 0.0244,
When the angle of attack is =10o ,
the lift coefficient CL = 1.26,
the pitching moment coefficient at the leading edge (Cm)LE = 0.339
the pitching moment coefficient at the half chord point (Cm)C/2= 0.29
the center of pressure (xc.p/c) = 0.27
the aerodynamic center (xac/c) = 0.25
29

Thin Airfoil Theory

Flat plate with a trailing edge flap

30

Thin Airfoil Theory

Flat plate with a trailing edge flap
Consider a flat plate airfoil with a trailing edge flap
as shown in figure, the flap chord to total chord
are "= cf/c" and the flap deflection angle are .
The expressions for the lift coefficient CL, the
pitching moment coefficient about the leading
edge point CM(LE), the pitching moment coefficient
about the aerodynamic center Cm(ac), the zero lift
angle of attack o as functions of , , and the
angle of attack "" using the thin airfoil theory can
be written as

CL CL CL

V,

c
Before deflection

,
V,

After deflection

CM ( LE ) CM ( LE) CM ( LE)

with CL 2 and
CL 2 f sin f CM ( LE)

with CM ( LE)

cf

and
2

1
sin2f
f 2 sin f

2
2

where
f cos 1 (2 1)

31

Thin Airfoil Theory

Flat plate with a trailing edge flap (cont.)
1 sin f (1 cos f )

c 4 4 ( f sin f )

xcp

V,

cf

Before deflection

CM ( ac) CM ( ac) CM ( ac)

with CM ( ac) 0 and

CM ( ac)

V,

1
sin2 f
sin f

2
2

where

After deflection

f cos 1 ( 2 1)

sin f

0 ( 1) f

32

Thin Airfoil Theory

Flat plate with a trailing edge flap (cont.)
H
cf

V,

V,

After deflection

Before deflection

The hinge moment coefficient due to flap deflection

CM ( H ) CM ( H ) CM ( H )
with CM ( H )
CM ( H )

1
2 2( f )( 2 cos f 1) 4 sin f sin(2f ) and
4

1
2

1 2 cos f 4( f ) sin f

(
1

cos(
2

2
(

)
f
f
2
4
where

f cos 1 ( 2 1)

33

Thin Airfoil Theory

Flat plate with a trailing edge flap (cont.)
If the flap chord to total chord = cf /c = 1/4, the flap
deflection angle = 4o , and the angle of attack
= 8o . Using thin airfoil theory :Before deflection
the lift coefficient
CL = 0.877
the pitching moment
coefficient
about
the
leading edge point
CM(LE) = - 0.219
the center of pressure
point xcp/c = 0.25

After deflection
the lift coefficient
CL = 1.144
the pitching moment
coefficient
about
the
leading edge point
CM(LE) = - 0.331
the center of pressure
point xcp/c = 0.29 34

Thin Airfoil Theory

Flat plate with a trailing edge flap (cont.)
If the flap chord to total chord = cf /c = 0.2 , the flap
deflection angle = 6o , and the angle of attack
= 12o . Using thin airfoil theory :Before deflection
the lift coefficient
CL = 1.316
the pitching moment
coefficient
about
the
leading edge point
CM(LE) = - 0.329
the center of pressure
point xcp/c = 0.25

After deflection
the lift coefficient
CL = 1.678
the pitching moment
coefficient
about
the
leading edge point
CM(LE) = - 0.486
the center of pressure
point xcp/c = 0.29 35

Thin Airfoil Theory

Flat plate with a trailing edge flap (cont.)
If the flap chord to total chord = cf /c = 0.2 , the flap
deflection angle = 6o , and the angle of attack
= 12o . Using thin airfoil theory :-

After deflection
CM ( H ) CM ( H ) CM ( H )
with CM ( H ) 0.5 and CM ( H ) 0.923

the hinge moment coefficient CM(H) = - 0.201

36

Thin Airfoil Theory

Problem Consider the NACA 6412 wing section airfoil with a mean camber line
given by
(y/c) = 0.3 (x/c) - 0.375 (x/c)2
for
0 =< (x/c) =< 0.4
(y/c) = 0.0333 + 0.1332 (x/c) 0.1665 (x/c) 2
for 0.4 =< (x/c) =< 1.0
Using thin airfoil theory calculate the zero lift angle of attack o and the
pitching moment coefficient at the aerodynamic center (Cm)ac . When the angle
of attack is =10o , find the lift coefficient CL, the pitching moment coefficient
at the leading edge (Cm)LE, the pitching moment coefficient at the half chord
point (Cm)C/2, and the center of pressure (Xc.p/c).
Problem Consider a flat plate airfoil with double trailing edge flap as shown in
figure, the flap chord to total chord are "1= cf1/c" and "2= cf2/c". The flap
deflection angles are 1 and 2, respectively.
Derive the lift coefficient CL as function of 1, 2, 1, 2 and the angle of attack
"" using the thin airfoil theory.
What is the change in the lift coefficient due to flap deflections 1=5o and 2 =
5o for 1 = 0.2 and 2 = 0.2 when = 10o.
1,1
Voo,

c
Before deflection

Voo,

After deflection

2,2

37

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END OF THIN
AIRFOIL
THEORY
51

NEXT FINITE
WING THEORY
52