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Lecture8 LiftingLineTheory

The document discusses lifting line theory, which models a wing as a single bound vortex with a continuously varying circulation distribution. It describes how lifting line theory can be used to determine the induced angle of attack, lift distribution, and induced drag of a wing. A key point is that an elliptical lift distribution produces constant induced angle of attack across the span, minimum induced drag, and the chord distribution must also be elliptical. The relationship between two-dimensional airfoil lift coefficient and three-dimensional wing lift coefficient depends on the aspect ratio.

Uploaded by

Anh Nguyen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
48 views

Lecture8 LiftingLineTheory

The document discusses lifting line theory, which models a wing as a single bound vortex with a continuously varying circulation distribution. It describes how lifting line theory can be used to determine the induced angle of attack, lift distribution, and induced drag of a wing. A key point is that an elliptical lift distribution produces constant induced angle of attack across the span, minimum induced drag, and the chord distribution must also be elliptical. The relationship between two-dimensional airfoil lift coefficient and three-dimensional wing lift coefficient depends on the aspect ratio.

Uploaded by

Anh Nguyen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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10/16/2015

Lifting Line Theory

Overview:
Induced angle of attack
Spanwise lift distribution
Lift curve slope of finite wingspans
Induced drag
Wing Twist
Stall

Lifting Line Theory

Lanchester (1907) described conceptually the effects on


wings with finite wingspans
Prandtl (1918) developed first methods do model and
predict lift and drag behavior of 3-D wing lifting line
thoery
Hess (1950) developed first numerical vortex lattice
method

Lifting line theory and vortex lattice methods are still in use
computationally very fast and accurate.
We will focus on LLT, because a lot of insight to what occurs
on 3-D wing.

10/16/2015

Lifting Line Model

Assumptions:

AR >5

Wing modeled by single bound vortex with a continuously


changing circulation distribution (y)

Wake vorticity is derivative of bound circulation

Effect of trailing vortex system on lifting line can be


reduced to change in angle of attack

Looking at a section of the wing

The section lift is given by:

1
Thus, in terms of the section lift coefficient: ( y ) 2 cl ( y )c ( y )V

The total lift of the wing is given by:

Without physical boundaries at the wingtips, lift and circulation


approach zero.
Thus, lift and circulation change continuously across span by dL and d.

dL( y ) V ( y ) 1 V 2cl ( y )c ( y )
2

b/2
L

1 2 V

2c ( y )c ( y )dy
l

b / 2

As circulation changes continuously from to +d, vorticity d is shed


in order to satisfy the Helmholtz theorems

10/16/2015

Looking at a section of the wing

Using the Biot-Savart law, we can evaluate the downwash at wing section y0: due to a
circulation (y):
d ( y )
dw ind ( y 0 )
4 ( y 0 y )
Thus, the total induced angle of attack at span location y0 is given by:
Can be

ind ( y 0 )

d induces a downwash at wing section y0.


That downwash result in an induced angle of
attack ind:

wind ( y 0 )
1

V
4V

b/2

b / 2

solved if
is known

d ( y )
( y0 y )

Remember, the local section lift coefficient is related to the local angle of attack:
Cl ( y 0 ) Cl ind ( y 0 )

Another Transformation

Using a transformation similar to thin airfoil theory:

This yields for the integral of the induced angle of attack:

ind ( y 0 )

1
2bV

b
cos
2

d ( )

cos cos0
0

This can be easily integrated, for example by assuming to be of a given


function such a Fourier series.
The result yields the local angles of attack, thus also the local lift coefficients:
Cl ( y 0 ) Cl ind ( y 0 )

It can also be used to compute the local section induced drag.

We will focus on the special case of an


elliptical load distribution.

10/16/2015

The Elliptical Load Distribution

The elliptical load distribution is a special case in literature. Theoretically, it


has the least induced drag (more about this later). Also, it has a constant
downwash across the wingspan.

Lets assume an elliptical load (circulation) distribution across the wingspan:

( y ) 0 1

2y

( ) 0 sin

The transformed distribution becomes relatively simple:

The subsequent solution of the integral for the induced angle of attack is:

ind

0
2bV

no dependency on y!!
Also b, V ind

This also means that if the wing has no twist, the local lift coefficient is equal to
the overall lift coefficient: Cl=CL! This means, that the chord distribution has to be
elliptical:
2
2y
c ( y ) c0 1
b

The Elliptical Wing

According to lifting line theory, a wing that has an elliptical planform and has
no twist will produce an elliptical circulation and lift distribution. Such a wing
will have a constant downwash and section lift coefficient across the span!

Since the induced angle of attack is constant across the span we can easily
relate angle of attack and lift.
2

2y
1. Use CL for cl
( y ) 0 1 1 2VCL ( y )c ( y )
b
2. Solve for chord
3. Use elliptical chord and
circulation relationships
2
2y
4. This yields for the
c ( y ) c0 1
c0CL
b
induced AOA: ind
4b
2
5. For elliptical planforms: AR b 4b
S c0

6. This yields:

ind ellipt

CL

AR

10/16/2015

The Elliptical Wing

Remember:

Cl ( y ) Cl ind

no twist =0

CL Cl L
AR

Cl=CL for elliptically loaded wing

This can be solved for CL :

This relationship between 2-D and 3-D lift works really well:

AR
CL Cl

AR 2

In order to get the same CL with a lower AR wing,


the AOA has to be larger than in the case
of a larger AR wing!

Angles of Attack on Wing and Airfoil

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