Analysis and Design of Planar and Non-Planar Wings for Induced Drag Minimization

By: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Staff

The goal of the work was to develop and validate computational tools to be used for the design of planar and non-planar wing geometries for minimum induced drag. Because of the iterative nature of the design problem, it is important that, in addition to being sufficiently accurate for the problem at hand, they are reasonably fast and computationally efficient. Toward this end, a method of predicting induced drag in the presence of a non-rigid wake is coupled with a panel method. The induced drag prediction technique is based on the Kutta-Joukowski law applied at the trailing edge. Until recently, the use of this method has not been fully explored and pressure integration and Trefftz-plane calculations favored. As is shown in this report, however, the Kutta-Joukowski method is able to give better results for a given amount of effort than the more common techniques, particularly when relaxed wakes and non-planar wing geometries are considered. Using these tools, a workable design method is in place which takes into account relaxed wakes and non-planar wing geometries. It is recommended that this method be used to design a wind-tunnel experiment to verify the predicted aerodynamic benefits of non-planar wing geometries. Mortara, K. and Straussfogel, Dennis M. and Maughmer, Mark D. Unspecified Center...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1729301878
• ISBN13: 9781729301876
• Release Date: October 2018
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 56 Pages
• Weight: 0.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 11.0"