Airfoils

Nomenclature
Aero Coefficients
Airfoil Data
Stall Speed
Flaps
MAE 2
2
MAE 2
Airfoil Nomenclature
The cross-sectional shape of a wing (or tail surface is called an airfoil!
Chord "ine
Chord (c
Thic#ness
Mean Cam$er "ine
Cam$er
Airflow
"eading edge
Trailing Edge
%
MAE 2
Lift and Drag
The angle-of-attac# is defined as the angle $etween the airfoil chord line and the
relati&e wind direction!
"ift is perpendicular to the relati&e wind and drag is parallel!
Chord "ine
Airflow
=angle-of-attack
c'(
L=lift force
D=drag force
M
c/ 4
=moment about quarter chord
(
MAE 2
Aerodynamic Coefficients
Aerod)namic forces and moments are con&erted to non-dimensional coefficients so
that comparisons can $e made $etween airfoils (and airplanes!
Coefficients are defined to $rea# dependent &aria$les into con&enient groupings!
c
l
= f
1
, M , Re
c
d
=
D
q S
c
m
=
M
q S c
c
l
=
L
q S
c
d
= f
2
, M , Re
c
m
= f
3
, M , Re
Airfoil section lift coefficient*
Airfoil section drag coefficient*
Airfoil section moment coefficient*
S=reference area
c=chord
q=
1
2
V
2
=dynamic pressure
+
MAE 2
Airfoil Data
NASA (formerl) NACA has compiled pages of data for &arious airfoil shapes!
Data pro&ides section lift, drag, and moment coefficients as a function of angle-of-attac#
and -e)nold.s num$er!

L=0
=zero lift angle-of-attack =angle-of-attack
c
l
c
l ,max
Attached Flow
Separated Flow
Stall angle-
of-attac#
d c
l
d
=lift cure slope
/
MAE 2
Example Airfoil Data
0
MAE 2
Flow Separation
Separation occurs when streamlines $egin to oppose the freestream flow direction!
Separated flow increases drag
This t)pe of drag is called pressure drag or form drag
Separated flow on an airfoil decreases lift!
This dramatic loss of lift is called stalling!

Attached Flow Separated Flow

1
MAE 2
Stall Speed
The stall speed is the slowest speed at which the aircraft can sustain le&el flight!
The lift force must $alance weight to maintain stead), le&el flight!
V
stall
=

2!
S C
Lmax
W=L=
1
2
V
2
S C
L
The stall speed occurs when the airplane flies at its ma2imum lift coefficient!
W="eight
=density
S=reference area
C
Lmax
=maximum lift coefficient #airplane$
3
MAE 2
Flaps
4ing flaps are used to increase the ma2imum lift coefficient and there$) decrease
stall speed!
A low &alue for stall speed leads to a safer airplane (slower landing speeds!
Flap de&ices on the airplane.s &ertical and hori5ontal tail surfaces (eg! rudder, aileron,
ele&ator are used for maneu&ering!

L=0

c
l

L=0
(no flap
=0
=1% deg
=4%deg
Trailing edge flap
67
MAE 2
Resources
8utta Condition
http*''www!)outu$e!com'watch9&:5;7/<g2ar47
NASA Airfoils
http*''www!)outu$e!com'watch9&:%=4g#;>4tno
?at 4ings
http*''www!)outu$e!com'watch9&:ep%l+mf@u<c