Introduction to Aerodynamics

Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

Pejman Akbari, Ph.D.

Spring 2015, Columbia University

Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

For the Elliptical Circulation Distribution

The induced drag coefficient increases

rapidly as CL increases, e.g., when the
airplane is flying slowly such as on
takeoff or landing.
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Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

Geometric twist: the wing has the same

section shape from root to tip at every
spanwise station, but the wing is physically
deformed by twisting the tip relative to the
root . This has the effect of changing the
geometric angle of attack along the span so
that = (y).
Aerodynamic twist: the geometric angle of
attack for each wing section is the same
across the span, but the wing sections
change. Aerodynamic twist has the effect
of making L0 take on a different value at
a different spanwise station of interest;
that is, L0 = L0 (y)

Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

Induced Drag for an Arbitrary Finite Wing
Read pages 435-437 for detailed derivations.

is called the
induced drag factor

Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

Example 1

Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

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Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

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Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

In the previous example to obtain the profile drag coefficient from the airfoil
data (cd), we used the section lift coefficient on the abscissa, cl , as the same
value of the wing lift coefficient, CL. This is a reasonable approximation,
especially for a wing with a high span efficiency factor, e , very near unity.
The question is how much this approximation was appropriate? To answer this
question we have to compare the lift curves for infinite and finite wings. But
before than, lets again review the relation between the geometric, effective, and
induced angles of attack.

We see that the (effective) angle of attack seen by the airfoil section is smaller
than the (geometric) angle of attack of the wing, the difference being the
induced angle of attack. Thus, we say that the flow over a finite wing at an
angle of attack is essentially the same as the flow over an infinite wing at an
angle of attack eff .
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Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

At zero lift, there are no induced

effects; that is, i = CD,i = 0.
Thus, when CL = 0, = eff . As a
result, L=0 is the same for the
finite and the infinite wings.
1. The effect of a finite wing is to reduce the
lift curve slope.
2. The angle of attack for zero lift L=0 is the
same for the finite and infinite wings. So for
finite wings, L=0 can be obtained from airfoil
date/plots.

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Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

You can show that:
1. For an elliptical finite wing:

2. For a finite wing of general platform:

is called the induced lift factor. Its values typically range between 0.01 and 0.25

Note that for low-AR wings, a substantial difference can exist between a0 and a.
However, as AR , a a0 .

Example 2:

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Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

Or

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Example 3:

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Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

 Homework (6), due next week

 Study Chapter 5 (pages 435-453) of the text book.
 Also review the posted two article about finite wings in incompressible
flow regimes.
 Then, solve the following 4 problems:

Problem (1)

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Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

Problem (2)

Problem (3)

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Lecture # 7: Finite Wings (II)

Problem (4)

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