Wing Shapes Flashcards
Describe the geometric features of a delta wing.
Shaped like a delta or triangle and are thin.
Describe how delta wings create lift.
Sharp LE causes separation, and vortices are created which flow downstream along the LE. Flow in the middle of the wing gets sucked down by the vortices onto the wing surface.
Draw the Cl vs AoA of a thin aerofoil and a delta wing.
What causes delta wings to stall at high AoAs?
The LE vortices become too strong and burst. The higher the AoA, the earlier they burst.
Draw the Cp vs y/s of a delta wing at mid chord.
Describe the aerodynamics of an elliptical wing.
The CoPs of the individual aerofoil sections along the span lie along the same line in x.
The induced drag is as small as possible.
Can be approximated by a straight vortex filament.
Describe the practical use of elliptical wings.
Design is simple and efficient due to basic loading.
How does down/upwash vary along the span of an elliptical wing?
It is constant.
What effect does adding endplates to a wing have on drag?
It better maintains the pressure differential between the shedding edges, thereby decreasing pressure equalisation, meaning the suction surface continues to have a large component of pressure force in the drag direction, increasing drag.
Why are aft-swept wings beneficial on race cars?
They are less sensitive to ride height and AoA changes, increasing drivability.
