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, very good.Morningside said:
Aircraft wings.
Nope, they are aerofoil sections. An aerofoil made from the one on the left would generate lift in an airflow, much increased at a small positive angle of attack.
Good for an aircraft wing profile, or could be used inverted to increase downforce as per a rear spoiler on a performance car.
The one on the right, having uniform upper and lower surface profiles, would generate no lift at all at 0 degrees angle of attack, and relatively little at a small angle of attack.
Edited by glenrobbo on Wednesday 30th November 15:08
glenrobbo said:
Morningside said:
Aircraft wings.
Nope,they are aerofoil sections. The one on the left would generate lift in an airflow, much increased at a small positive angle of attack.
The one on the right, having uniform upper and lower surface profiles, would generate no lift at all at 0 degrees angle of attack, and relatively little at a small angle of attack.
Absolutely, the RH section also incurs much less drag.
At supersonic speeds, things become more complicated as some aerodynamic laws reverse and completely different aerofoil shapes are required to maintain lift, minimize drag and buffeting from shockwaves.
It would be easier to demonstrate using a sacrificial parrot...
Or some nice fresh young kittens.
At supersonic speeds, things become more complicated as some aerodynamic laws reverse and completely different aerofoil shapes are required to maintain lift, minimize drag and buffeting from shockwaves.
It would be easier to demonstrate using a sacrificial parrot...
Or some nice fresh young kittens.
Edited by glenrobbo on Wednesday 30th November 15:34
glenrobbo said:
Morningside said:
Aircraft wings.
Nope, they are aerofoil sections. An aerofoil made from the one on the left would generate lift in an airflow, much increased at a small positive angle of attack.
Good for an aircraft wing profile, or could be used inverted to increase downforce as per a rear spoiler on a performance car.
The one on the right, having uniform upper and lower surface profiles, would generate no lift at all at 0 degrees angle of attack, and relatively little at a small angle of attack.
Edited by glenrobbo on Wednesday 30th November 15:08
glenrobbo said:
Nope, they are aerofoil sections.
An aerofoil made from the one on the left would generate lift in an airflow, much increased at a small positive angle of attack.
Good for an aircraft wing profile, or could be used inverted to increase downforce as per a rear spoiler on a performance car.
The one on the right, having uniform upper and lower surface profiles, would generate no lift at all at 0 degrees angle of attack, and relatively little at a small angle of attack.
Thanks for that. I recognised they were wing profiles, OK, aerofoils, but didn't know what the working difference was.An aerofoil made from the one on the left would generate lift in an airflow, much increased at a small positive angle of attack.
Good for an aircraft wing profile, or could be used inverted to increase downforce as per a rear spoiler on a performance car.
The one on the right, having uniform upper and lower surface profiles, would generate no lift at all at 0 degrees angle of attack, and relatively little at a small angle of attack.
Edited by glenrobbo on Wednesday 30th November 15:08
If the one on the left is for performance cars then presumably the one on the right is ideal for your barried Saxo.
Dogwatch said:
Thanks for that. I recognised they were wing profiles, OK, aerofoils, but didn't know what the working difference was.
If the one on the left is for performance cars then presumably the one on the right is ideal for your barried Saxo.
Other way round - see my explanation above. The laminar flow wing will most likely be found on an airliner, whereas the symmetrical basic aerofoil will most likely be attached to a stunt plane.If the one on the left is for performance cars then presumably the one on the right is ideal for your barried Saxo.
A "supercar" wing - ie one for a supersonic fighter jet - looks totally different due to the way that supersonic shockwaves work:
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