Theory of Wing Sections: Including a Summary of Airfoil Data

by Ira H. Abbott, A. E. von Doenhoff

Overview

"Most useful in working with wing sections and methods for using section data to predict wing characteristics . . . much detailed geometric and aerodynamic data." — Mechanical Engineering
The first edition of this work has been corrected and republished in answer to the continuing demand for a concise compilation of the subsonic aerodynamics characteristics of modern NASA wing sections together with a description of their geometry and associated theory. These wing sections, or their derivatives, continue to be the ones most commonly used for airplanes designed for both subsonic and supersonic speeds, and for helicopter rotor blades, propeller blades, and high performance fans.
Intended to be primarily a reference work for engineers and students, the book devotes over 300 pages to theoretical and experimental considerations. The theoretical treatment progresses from elementary considerations to methods used for the design of NACA low-drag airfoils. Methods and data are presented for using wingsection data to predict wing characteristics, and judiciously selected plots and cross-plots of experimental data are presented for readily useful correlation of certain simplifying assumptions made in the analyses. The chapters on theory of thin wings and airfoils are particularly valuable, as is the complete summary of the NACA's experimental observations and system of constructing families of airfoils. Mathematics has been kept to a minimum, but it is assumed that the reader has a knowledge of differential and integral calculus, and elementary mechanics.
The appendix of over 350 pages contains these tables: Basic Thickness Forms, Mean Lines, Airfoil Ordinates, and Aerodynamic Characteristics of Wing Sections.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780486134994
Publisher:	Dover Publications
Publication date:	03/29/2012
Series:	Dover Books on Aeronautical Engineering
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	704
Sales rank:	1,276,362
File size:	173 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

Table of Contents

PREFACE TO DOVER EDITION
PREFACE
1. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WING-SECTION CHARACTERISTICS
Symbols.
The Forces on Wings.
Effect of Aspect Ratio.
Application of Section Data to Monoplane Wings:
a. Basic Concepts of Lifting-line Theory.
b. Solutions for Linear Lift Curves.
c. Generalized Solution.
Applicability of Section Data.
2. SIMPLE TWO-DIMENSIONAL FLOWS
Symbols.
Introduction.
Concept of a Perfect Fluid.
Equations of Motion.
Description of Flow Patterns.
Simple Two-dimensional Flows:
a. Uniform Stream.
b. Sources and Sinks.
c. Doublets.
d. Circular Cylinder in a Uniform Stream.
e. Vortex.
f. Circular Cylinder with Circulation.
3. THEORY OF WING SECTIONS OF FINITE THICKNESS
Symbols.
Introduction.
Complex Variables.
Conformal Transformations.
Transformation of a Circle into a Wing Section.
Flow about Arbitrary Wing Sections.
Empirical Modification of the Theory.
Design of Wing Sections.
4. THEORY OF THIN WING SECTIONS
Symbols.
Basic Concepts.
Angle of Zero Lift and Pitching Moment.
Design of Mean Lines.
Engineering Applications of Section Theory.
5. THE EFFECTS OF VISCOSITY
Symbols.
Concept of Reynolds Number and Boundary Layer.
Flow around Wing Sections.
Characteristics of the Laminar Layer.
Laminar Skin Friction.
Momentum Relation.
Laminar Separation.
Turbulent Flow in Pipes.
Turburlent Skin Friction.
Calculation of Thickness of the Turbulent Layer.
Turbulent Separation.
Transition from Laminar to Turbulent Flow.
Calculation of Profile Drag.
Effect of Mach Number on Skin Friction.
6. FAMILIES OF WING SECTIONS
Symbols.
Introduction.
Method of Combining Mean Lines and Thickness Distributions.
NACA Four-digit Wing Sections:
a. Thickness Distributions.
b. Mean Lines.
c. Numbering System.
d. Approximate Theoretical Characteristics.
NACA Five-digit Wing Sections:
a. Thickness Distributions.
b. Mean Lines.
c. Numbering System.
d. Approximate Theoretical Characteristics.
Modified NACA Four-and Five-digit Series Wing Sections.
NACA 1-Series Wing Sections:
a. Thickness Distributions.
b. Mean Lines.
c. Numbering System.
d. Approximate Theoretical Characteristics.
NACA 6-Series Wing Sections:
a. Thickness Distributions.
b. Mean Lines.
c. Numbering System.
d. Approximate Theoretical Characteristics.
NACA 7-Series Wing Sections.
Special Combinations of Thickness and Camber.
7. EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WING SECTIONS.
Symbols.
Introduction.
Standard Aerodynamic Characteristics.
Lift Characteristics:
a. Angle of Zero Lift.
b. Lift-curve Slope.
c. Maximum Lift.
d. Effect of Surface Condition on Lift Characteristics.
Drag Characteristics:
a. Minimum Drag of Smooth Wing Sections.
b. Variation of Profile Drag with Lift Coefficient.
c. Effect of Surface Irregularities on Drag Characteristics.
d. Unconservative Wing Sections.
Pitching moment Characteristics.
8. HIGH-LIFT DEVICES
Symbols.
Introduction.
Plain Flaps.
Split Flaps.
Slotted Flaps:
a. Description of Slotted Flaps.
b. Single-slotted Flaps.
c. External-aifoil Flaps.
d. Double-slotted Flaps.
Leading-edge High-lift Devices:
a. Slats.
b. Slots.
c. Leading-edge Flaps.
Boundary-layer Control.
The Chordwise Load Distribution over Flapped Wing Sections.
9. EFFECTS OF COMPRESSIBILITY AT SUBSONIC SPEEDS
Symbols.
Introduction.
Steady Flow through a Stream Tube:
a. Adiabatic Law
b. Velocity of Sound
c. Bernoulli's Equation for Compressible Flow.
d. Cross-sectional Areas and Pressures in a Stream Tube.
e. Relations for a Normal Shock.
First-order Compressibility Effects:
a. Glauert-Prandtl Rule
b. Effect of Mach Number on the Pressure Coefficient.
Flow about Wing Sections at High Speed:
a. Flow at Subcritical Mach Numbers.
b. Flow at Supercritical Mach Numbers.
Experimental Wing Characteristics at High Speeds:
a. Lift Characteristics.
b. Drag Characteristics.
c. Moment Characteristics.
Wings for High-speed Applications.
REFERENCES
APPENDIX
I. Basic Thickness Forms
II. Mean Lines
III. Airfoil Ordinates
IV. Aerodynamic Characteristics of Wing Sections
INDEX