I'm doing an experiment using two airfoils of the same dimensions except for the camber. I am getting results in which more lift is produced using the smaller wing. Is this correct or are my results incorrect?
Thanks
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Sign up to join this communityI'm doing an experiment using two airfoils of the same dimensions except for the camber. I am getting results in which more lift is produced using the smaller wing. Is this correct or are my results incorrect?
Thanks
When you say smaller wing, I assume you mean less camber? Because you say they are the same dimensions, which I take to mean wing plan.
Here is one explanation, it all depends on the regime the wing is designed for.
I am sure you know most of it already though, sorry.
If an airplane is being designed to fly at low speed (0 - 100 mph), it will have a different camber than an airplane designed to fly at supersonic speed (760 - 3,500 mph). In general, low to medium speed airplanes have airfoils with more thickness and camber.
Greater camber gives greater lift at slower speeds. At faster speeds (supersonic) and at higher altitudes airfoil shapes need to be thinner, so you reduce the camber to delay the formation of a shock wave. I don't think this applies to you.
There are NASA sites which have calculators for total lift on them.
NASA lift calculator. If they don't cover camber, keep searching, their should be one site that does
So unless you specify the speed regime, it's not a yes or no answer.
The way a wing produces lift is by turning the air through a deflection angle without the flow separating from the wing (stalling).
By curving the wing, that angle can be greater.
Lift is proportional to the deflection angle (actually the sine of the angle) and velocity squared (and wing area, of course).
Drag (induced drag) is proportional to those same things.
When an aircraft such as a jet transport wants to fly at slow speeds, it compensates by increasing the camber and the wing area. It has leading edge slats, and trailing edge flaps, which are extended for this purpose.
Read this great ebook, and take one or two flying lessons. Call your local airport, or google "flying school near me". It's fun and not expensive. Then you'll have a much better understanding of how wings work.