AER100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Wingtip Vortices, Lift-Induced Drag, Wingtip Device
Document Summary
Should gradually allow airflow to meet: winglets (blended wingtip) Increases aspect ratio, and partially blocks path of vortices: easier to build than elliptical wings, drooping wingtips, partially blocks path of vortices, easier to build than winglets. Similar to winglets, except going downwards: parasite drag, drag produced by parts of the airplane that do not produce lift, form drag, caused by frontal area of airplane impacting air, blunter object = more drag. Shape of object should ideally produce no turbulent wake by splitting airflow gradually, and gradually allowing airflow to meet: turbulent wake is a series of low pressure areas which produce drag (applies suction on rear of airplane) Ideally a narrow object with smooth leading and trailing edges: can also be eliminated by removing components extending into airflow, e. g. antennas, landing gear, etc, skin friction, caused by air passing over the airplane surface.
