PLANFORM EFFECTS ON THE INDUCED DRAG OF UNTWISTED WINGS

Authors

  • T. Glade
  • J. Westkaemper

Keywords:

Aerodynamics, Structures, Design

Abstract

The elliptical planform was shown by Prandtl to be the optimum shape for producing minimum induced drag. Planforms with straight leading and trailing edges are generally preferred for practical reasons. However, a judicious design can make the induced drag penalty of non-elliptical shapes comparatively small. The existing literiture is mainly devoted to wings of simple taper and relatively low aspect ratio which are characteristic of powered aircraft. In the present work, computer solutions using lifting line theory were obtained for aspect ratios up to 30 and the three common alternatives to the elliptical planform: a) single taper, b) double taper, and c) rectangular inboard section combined with a tapered outer section, termed here the outer taper.

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Issue

Vol. 4 No. 3 (1977)

Section

Articles

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