An analytic study is conducted to determine the impact of aspect ratio on the efficiency of a wing at low Reynolds numbers. Viscous effects in terms of airfoil sectional behavior are simulated. The behavior of two airfoils is experimentally examined to extract parameters required for simulation. The analysis indicates that without the inclusion of airfoil pressure drag, wing efficiency increases essentially unbounded with aspect ratio. However, incorporating airfoil efficiency leads to the appearance of distinct peaks in plots of the range and endurance parameters. Low airfoil efficiency is seen to favor moderate wing aspect ratios so as to minimize the sectional pressure-drag penalty.
Aerodynamic Impact of Aspect Ratio at Low Reynolds Number
Journal of Aircraft ; 50 , 2 ; 626-634
2013-01-04
9 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Aerodynamic Impact of Aspect Ratio at Low Reynolds Number
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