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    Thin Airfoil Theory Summary PDF

    Uploaded by

    Eva Novitalia

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Thin Airfoil Theory Summary PDF

    Uploaded by

    Eva Novitalia
    34 views4 pages

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    Thin Airfoil Theory Summary.pdf

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    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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    Download as pdf or txt
    34 views4 pages

    Thin Airfoil Theory Summary PDF

    Uploaded by

    Eva Novitalia

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    Thin Airfoil Theory Summary

    Replace airfoil with camber line (assume small


    c

    )
    Distribute vortices of strength ) (x along chord line for 0 x c .

    Determine ) (x by satisfying flow tangency on camber line.


    0
    ( )
    0
    2 ( )
    c
    dZ d
    V
    dx x

    | |
    =
    |

    \ .



    The pressure coefficient can be simplified using Bernoulli & assuming small
    perturbation:



    x
    z
    c
    (x) = thickness
    z(x) = camber line
    x
    z
    c
    z(x) = camber line
    x
    z
    c
    (x)dx
    Thin Airfoil Theory Summary
    16.100 2002 2
    { }
    2
    2 2 2
    2 2
    2
    2
    2 2 2
    2
    2 2
    2
    higher order
    1
    2
    1 1
    ( )
    2 2
    ( )
    1
    1
    2
    2
    1
    2
    p
    p p
    c
    V
    p V u V p V
    p p V u V
    V
    V
    V V u u V
    V
    u u V
    V V

    =
    + + + = +
    + +
    =
    + + +
    =
    +
    =


    2
    p
    u
    C
    V

    =



    It can also be shown that

    ( ) ( ) ( )
    2
    ( )
    lower upper
    upper lower
    p p p upper lower
    x u x u x
    C C C u u
    V

    =
    = =



    ( )
    ( ) 2
    p
    x
    C x
    V

    =

    Symmetric Airfoil Solution

    For a symmetric airfoil (i.e. 0
    dz
    dx
    = ), the vortex strength is:



    sin
    cos 1
    2 ) (
    +
    =

    V

    But, recall:

    (1 cos )
    2
    c
    x =
    Thin Airfoil Theory Summary
    16.100 2002 3
    2
    2
    cos 1 2
    sin 1 cos
    1 1 2
    sin 2 (1 )
    x
    c
    x
    c
    x x
    c c

    =
    =
    | |
    =
    |
    \ .
    =


    1
    ( ) 2
    (1 )
    x
    c
    x V
    x x
    c c



    1
    ( ) 2
    x
    c
    x V
    x
    c

    =

    Thus,
    1
    4
    p
    x
    c
    C
    x
    c


    = .

    Some things to notice:
    At trailing edge 0 =
    p
    C .
    Kutta condition is enforced which requires
    upper lower
    p p =
    At leading edge,
    p
    C ! Suction peak required to turn flow around
    leading edge which is infinitely thin.

    The instance of a suction peak exists on true airfoils (i.e. not infinitely thin)
    though
    p
    C is finite (but large).

    Suction peaks should be avoided as they can result in
    1. leading edge separation
    2. low (very low) pressure at leading edge which must rise towards trailing edge
    adverse pressure gradients boundary layer separation.

    x
    c
    C
    p
    Thin Airfoil Theory Summary
    16.100 2002 4
    Cambered Airfoil Solutions

    For a cambered airfoil, we can use a Fourier serieslike approach for the vortex
    strength distribution:

    1
    flat plate
    cambered
    contributions
    contributions
    1 cos
    ( ) 2 sin
    sin
    o n
    n
    V A A n

    =
    (
    (
    +
    (
    = +
    (
    (
    (




    Plugging this into the flow tangency condition for the camber line gives (after
    some work):

    0 0
    0
    0 0
    0
    1
    2
    cos
    n
    dz
    A d
    dx
    dz
    A n d
    dx

    =
    =



    After finding the
    n
    A s, the following relationships can be used to find ,
    ac
    m
    C C

    , etc.


    4
    2 1
    0 0 0 1
    0
    2 ( )
    ( )
    4
    1 1
    (cos 1)
    2
    c ac
    LO
    m m
    LO
    C
    C C A A
    dz
    d A A
    dx

    =
    = =
    = =



    Note: in thin airfoil theory, the aerodynamic center is always at the quarter-chord
    (
    4
    c
    ), regardless of the airfoil shape or angle of attack.

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