AIRFOIL DESIGN
Overview: The project goal is to analyze and recreate an airfoil based on the NACA number. Then test and record the airfoil in simulated conditions. Then create an airfoil and test it to see if it matched the characteristics of its simulated counterparts.
Facts: The RQ-2 Pioneer is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that had been utilized by the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Army. It's NACA number is 4415. It is manufactured by AAI Corporation and Israel Aircraft Industries and is a Training Air Wing 6 UAV Detachment
Airfoil Data: Getting the vital data based on the NACA number involved looking up the NACA number for the chosen airfoil, and plotting its profile. We used the NACA 4 digit series profile generate to get the profile. This profile is used to create the airfoil for testing.
Airfoil Simulation: The NASA FoilSim applet calculates the lift of an airfoil based on user inputs of flow conditions and wing geometry. We used the NACA number (4415) to set the shape of the airfoil. The first number (4) represents the camber, the last two digits (15) represents the thickness. The size of the simulate airfoil is the same as the test airfoil (4" chord and 4" span). The flight conditions are set at 60 mph and the altitude is at 0. The data is recorded with the Angle of Attack is set to -20 and the Final Angle of Attack to 20 and the Angle of Attack Step to 5 degrees. Complete Foilsim Excel chart is below.
Conclusion
1. Explain differences between the airfoil simulation prediction and the wind tunnel test results.
The difference between the airfoil simulation and he wind tunnel is that the the wind tunnel provides more accurate results allowing us see how efficiently our plane will fly.
2. What characteristic of the airfoil had the most significant impact on lift and drag?
The angle of attack had the most significant impact on the lift and drag.
3. Explain what you would change in the design of your airfoil design?
What I would change in the design of my airfoil is its design and leading edge.
The difference between the airfoil simulation and he wind tunnel is that the the wind tunnel provides more accurate results allowing us see how efficiently our plane will fly.
2. What characteristic of the airfoil had the most significant impact on lift and drag?
The angle of attack had the most significant impact on the lift and drag.
3. Explain what you would change in the design of your airfoil design?
What I would change in the design of my airfoil is its design and leading edge.