Wing Design

Question 1

What are the 3 cambers of aerofoil?

Answer 1

Postive chamber (main wing section)
Negative chamber (horizontal stabiliser)
Symmetrical (vertical stabiliser)

Question 2

What are the main plan-view wing designs?

Answer 2

Rectangular
Elliptical
Taper
Swept

Question 3

What is the aspect ratio (AR)of a wing? What is the formula?

Answer 3

The relationship between the span length (b) and the chord length (c)

AR = b2/S

Question 4

What are the main cross-sectional elements of a wing design?

Answer 4

Span - the distance beween wingtips
chord - distance between LA and TA
Chord line - straight line between LA and TA
Mean chord - lays midway between upper and lower surface.
Root chord
Tip chord
Thickness - occurs at thickest point - expressed as percentage of chord

Question 5

Define an elliptical wing and it’s advantages

Answer 5

as the chord reduces toward the wingtipe, the inclination increases and thus balance each other out.

Produces the best downwash profile.

(inclination of the wing affects the ability of the pressure to equalise)

Question 6

What is the centre of pressure and where is it located?

Answer 6

Centre of Pressure is the point at which the resultant force of the static pressure on the surface acts and can change with angle of attack.

positive camber = 1/3 of the chord. Moves with AOA.
symmentrical = 1/4 of chord (and independant of AOA)

Question 7

What is the centre of gravity and where is it located?

Answer 7

All forces acting on a plane act through the centre of gravity .