Aerofoil: Introduction, Terminology, and Types

Introduction

A cross-sectional shape with a curved surface that is optimised for flight and has the best lift-to-drag ratio is an aerofoil. It is also known as an aerofoil. Any device designed to alter a fluid’s motion to produce a reaction—in the case of an aeroplane, aerodynamic lift—is referred to as an aerofoil. Keep reading to learn more about it.What is Aerofoil?

Aerofoil is a cross-sectional form with a curved surface optimised for flight and has the best lift-to-drag ratio. Drag is the component parallel to the direction of motion, and lift is the component that causes the force to be perpendicular to the direction of motion.

Aerofoils are extremely effective lifting forms because they produce more lift per unit area than flat plates of comparable size. They are smaller in size while producing lift with substantially less drag. As a result, designers created an aerofoil to provide aerodynamic lift perpendicular to its direction of motion.

The aerofoil’s design is influenced by its aerodynamic properties, which in turn depend on the weight, speed, and use of the aircraft. They depend on particular concepts that they must define to comprehend the design. German mathematician Max Munk initially created the aerofoil, which was improved upon in the 1920s by British aerodynamicist Hermann Glauert and others.

Aerofoil Terminology

An aerofoil is composed of a variety of cross-sectional shapes. The building of aircraft wings involves the use of various aerofoils. Aerofoil characteristics and specialised terminology are used to distinguish between various aerofoil shapes. An aerofoil is made with a shape that can produce lift while flying through the air with comparatively high efficiency. Many cross-sectional shapes are possible for aerofoil. The following are terms that pertain to aerofoils:

Chord: The leading edge, located at the front of the aerofoil, is the point with the greatest curvature. The trailing edge, located at the back of the aerofoil, is the point with the greatest curvature along the chord line. This distance is referred to as the chord. It is a measurement along the chord line between the leading and trailing edges.

Chord Line: The line that bridges the leading and trailing edges is known as the chord line.

Leading-Edge: It is the aerofoil’s edged component that makes initial contact with airborne particles.

Lower Surface: The lower surface is also referred to as a pressure surface and has a higher static pressure. It is located on the lower side of an aerofoil, between the leading and trailing edges.

Mean Camber Line: It is a line that connects an aerofoil’s leading and trailing edges, spaced equally from the top and lower surfaces.

Maximum Camber: It is the chord line’s maximum separation from the mean camber line.

Maximum Thickness: It is the greatest separation between the bottom and upper surfaces.

Trailing-Edge: It is the aerofoil’s edged component that makes the final impact with airborne particles.

Upper Surface: High velocity and low static pressure are characteristics of the upper surface. They are also referred to as the suction surface. It is located on the upper side of an aerofoil, between the leading and trailing edges.

The following phrases are used to describe the behaviour of an aerofoil as it moves through a fluid:

1. Aerodynamic Centre: The point at which the pitching moment is unaffected by the lift coefficient and the angle of attack.

2. Centre of Pressure: It is the point at which there is no pitching moment.

3. Angle of Attack (AOA): The angle of attack is the angle produced between an oncoming flow and a reference line on a body.

4. Pitching Moment: It is the aerodynamic force’s moment or torque on the aerofoil that is referred to as the pitching moment.

How do aerofoils generate lifts?

An aerofoil creates lift by applying a downward push to the air as it passes. By Newton’s third law, the air must pull on the elevated aerofoil with an equal and opposite (upward) force. As it passes over the aerofoil, the wind changes course and takes a downwardly curving path.

We utilise aerofoils in the design of aeroplanes, propellers, rotor blades, wind turbines, and other aeronautical engineering applications. In aeroplanes, the lift is the force that is generated by forward motion and opposes the weight of the aircraft. The top and bottom of the wing must split apart when the air passes over them. The increased flow of air under the wing, which is forced downward and forces the plane up, producing lift, is made possible by the wing’s upward inclination and curved surface. This indicates that the force pulling the wing up is stronger, enabling the plane to fly.

Aerofoil types

We use the following list of aerofoil types:

Symmetrical Aerofoil:

The chord line and mean camber line are identical in a symmetrical aerofoil, which has identical upper and lower surfaces and produces no life at zero AOA. These applications work just fine on the main rotor blades of the majority of light helicopters. The chord line and mean camber line of this particular form of aerofoil are equal on the upper and lower surfaces, which results in the absence of life at zero angles of attack. The primary rotor blades of various light helicopters use symmetrical aerofoils.

Non-symmetrical Aerofoil:

Non-symmetrical aerofoil, also referred to as cambered aerofoil, has differing upper and bottom surfaces. It positions the chord line above with a significant curve. This aerofoil, also known as a cambered aerofoil, has various upper and lower surfaces, which causes the chord line to be positioned above and has a significant curve. These aerofoils have varied chord lines and chamber lines. Their advantages include superior lift-to-drag ratios and stall characteristics, which produce effective lift at zero angles of attack.

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