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2D Airfoil Aerodynamics
Lift is mainly provided by
the wing with an airfoil
cross-section shape
Airfoil Geometry
An airfoil is the 2D cross-
section shape of the wing,
which creates sufficient lift
with minimal drag
Historical Airfoils
Historical Airfoils
Typical Streamlines
Angle of Attack
c
h
o
r
d
lin
e
Pressure Distribution
99500
99550
99600
99650
99700
99750
99800
99850
99900
99950
100000
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Chordwise Distance, x, m
S
u
r
f
a
c
e
P
r
e
s
s
u
e
,
P
,
N
/
s
q
m
Net Normal Force
Upper Surface Pressure
Lower Surface Pressure
n P P dx
l
c
u
( )
0
Pressure Coefficient Distribution
0
2
2
1
V
p p
c
p
2
2
1
V
p p
c
p
In free-stream:
At stagnation point (V=0):
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
0
0
V
V
V
p p
c
p
drag
chordwise
force
S V
l
c
l
2
2
1
S V
d
c
d
2
2
1
Center of Pressure
The resultant aerodynamic force acts at the Center of
Pressure (c.p.), about which the moment is zero.
NACA Airfoils and Test Data
4-Digit Series
5-Digit Series
6 Series
Open-Circuit Wind Tunnel
Wind Tunnel Tests
Force transducer behind model senses lift, drag and pitching moment directly.
Motor-controlled mechanism adjusts the models angle of attack.
Closed-Circuit Wind Tunnel
Wing Section Models
Model for measuring lift,
drag and pitching moment
Model for measuring surface
pressure distribution
There is a maximum
Lift-to-Drag ratio (L/D).
Location of Center of
Pressure (c.p.) varies
with
NACA 0006 Data
at Re = 3,180,000
NACA 2312 Data
at Re = 3,120,000
Lift decreases and
drag increases
sharply beyond the
stall (max. C
l
) point,
due to boundary
layer separation.
Stalled Airfoil
Reynolds Number Effect
Since the c.p. varies with , it is more desirable to use a fixed Aerodynamic
Center (a.c.) as the point of action of the lift and drag. The pitching moment
about this point can be calculated, and is found insensitive to . For most
airfoils, the a.c. locates at around quarter chord (x=c/4).
Aerodynamic Center
c
m
V Sc
m
1
2
2
Pitching Moment
Coefficient:
Typical Non-Cambered Airfoil
Lift Curve & Drag Polar
NACA 0006
Typical Cambered Airfoil
NACA 2412
Lift Curve & Drag Polar
Airfoil Aerodynamic Characteristics
at Re = 6 million
NACA 0006 NACA 2412
Zero-Lift Angle of Attack (deg.) 0 -2
Stall Angle of Attack (deg.) 9 16
Maximum Lift Coefficient 0.9 1.7
Lift Curve Slope (1/deg.) 0.1 0.108
Moment Coefficient (before stall) 0 0.05
Minimum Drag Coefficient 0.005 0.006
Max. Lift-to-Drag Ratio (L/D) 0.7/0.0076 = 92.1 1.0/0.0088 = 113
Computation Fluid Dynamics Simulation
CFD Simulation: Near stall
CFD Simulation: Fully Stalled
Airfoil Generator at http://www.ae.su.oz.au/aero/info/index.html
Airfoil Analysis Code at http://www.ae.su.oz.au/aero/info/index.html