A method for the optimization of a nonplanar airplane wing shape with respect to the total of induced and profile wing drags is presented. Optimization is performed subject to the lift constraint and one of the following: fixed span; fixed arc length; or fixed wing root bending moment. A planar wing is demonstrated to be the optimal solution in all cases for which the profile drag contributes most to the total drag. In the cases of fixed span and fixed root bending moment calculations, the emergence of nonplanar wings occurs as the optimal solution when the induced drag becomes the more significant component. This is marked by a break point in which the induced and profile drags are comparable.
Shape Optimization of Nonplanar Lifting Surfaces and Planar–Nonplanar Break Points
Journal of Aircraft ; 50 , 3 ; 798-806
2013-04-19
9 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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