Thin Airfoil Theory

m
Lift coeffcient: Cl l / 12 V2 c

Moment coeficient: Cm m / 12 V2 c 2
Center of pressure:
Aerodynamic Center:

Point about which moment is zero

Point about which moment does
not change with angle of attack

Thin Airfoil Theory Setup

Symbols:

v=Vsin+v'

u=Vcos+u'

t
c
l (<0)

Chord c

Assumptions:
1. Airfoil is thin << c
2. Angles/slopes are small e.g.
sin , cos 1, slope angle
3. Airfoil only slightly disturbs
free stream u', v' << V
Kutta condition? (cusped TE)

u c t
Camber c 12 (u l )
or
l c t
Thickness t 12 (u l )
Non-penetration condition?

Bernoulli?

Thin Airfoil Theory - Simplifications

Bernoulli:

Assumptions:
1. Airfoil is thin << c
2. Angles/slopes are small e.g.
sin , cos 1, slope angle
3. Airfoil only slightly disturbs free
stream u', v' << V
v=Vsin+v'
y

Kutta Condition:

u=Vcos+u'
V(c,0+)
x

c
V(c,0-)

Thin Airfoil Theory - Simplifications

Non-Penetration Condition:
Exact:

v=Vsin+v'

u=Vcos+u'

t
c

l (<0)

Linearized:
y

u c t
l c t

C p ( x,0 ) 2u ( x,0 ) / V

y=0+
x

y=0-

u(c,0+)=u(c,0-)
4

A Source Sheet
Jump in normal velocity component
(numerically equal to half the sheet
strength)

A Vortex Sheet
Jump in tangential velocity component
(numerically equal to half the sheet
strength)

Solving for the Flow

Proposed Ideal Flow Solution:

Linearized problem:
y

iy

C p ( x,0 ) 2u ( x,0 ) / V

v ' ( x ,0 )
d d
c t
V
dx
dx

y=0+

y=0+
x

y=0-

u(c,0+)=u(c,0-)

x1
V

y=0-

x
dx1

Source sheet
+ vortex sheet

Solving for the Flow

Proposed Ideal Flow Solution:

Linearized problem:
y

iy

C p ( x,0 ) 2u ( x,0 ) / V
v ' ( x ,0 )
d d
c t
V
dx
dx

y=0+

v ' ( x ,0 )
1

V
2V
u ' ( x ,0 )
1

V
2V

y=0+
x

y=0-

u(c,0+)=u(c,0-)

x1
V

y=0-

( x1 )

( x x ) dx

q ( x1 )

( x x ) dx
0

q( x)
2V

( x)
2V

x
dx1

Source sheet
+ vortex sheet

(c )
(c )
u ' ( c ,0 ) u ' ( c ,0 )
1
q ( x1 )
1
q ( x1 )
Kutta

so
dx

dx

so (c ) 0
1
1
V
2V 0 (c x1 )
2V 2V 0 (c x1 )
2V
condition: V
c

Nonpenetration:
Pressure:
Pressure Difference:
7

General Algebraic Solution

Non-penetration

d d
i ( x1 )
1
q( x)
dx
c t

1
dx
dx 2V 0 ( x x1 )
2V
c

d d
i ( x1 )
1
q( x)
dx
c t

1
dx
dx 2V 0 ( x x1 )
2V
c

x / c 12 (1 cos )
x1 / c 12 (1 cos 1 )
0

c
0

General Algebraic Solution

Fourier Series Solution gives:
( ) / V (2 Bo )

where:

1 cos
2 Bn sin(n )
sin
n 1

2 d
Bn c ( ) cos(n )d
0 dx

mO
0

x / c 12 (1 cos )

C p
x

c
0

Transferring the moment - Conclusions

Now:

Cl 2 ( B0 B1 )
C mO Cl ( B1 B2 )
1
4

mO

1
4

22 B0 1 cos
C p ( )
4 Bn sin( n )
sin
n 1

x / c 12 (1 cos )

mx
c

2 d
Bn c ( ) cos(n )d
0 dx

10

Example 1 Symmetric Foil

An airfoil has a straight camber line
defined as: c / c 0
Determine the aerodynamic characteristics
and vortex sheet strength.

t
c

u
l

x / c (1 cos )
1
2

c
0

2 d
Bn c ( ) cos(n )d
0 dx

Cl 2 ( B0 B1 )

C mx ( cx 14 )Cl 14 ( B1 B2 )

1 cos
( ) / V (2 Bo )
2 Bn sin(n )
sin
n 1

11

Example 2 Parabolic Foil

An airfoil has upper and lower surfaces
defined as: u / c 0.5( x / c )(1 x / c )

l / c 0.3( x / c )(1 x / c )

t
c

u
l

Determine the aerodynamic characteristics

x / c (1 cos )
1
2

c
0

2 d
Bn c ( ) cos(n )d
0 dx

Cl 2 ( B0 B1 )

C mx ( cx 14 )Cl 14 ( B1 B2 )

12

Example 3 NACA 2412

A NACA 2412 airfoil has a camber line
given by the equations:

c
c

1
10
1
90

x / c ( x / c)
452 x / c 362 ( x / c ) 2
2
16

4
10

4
10

4
x c 1
10

x / c (1 cos )
1
2

c
0

0 x/c
4
10 x / c 1

0 x c

2 d
Bn c ( ) cos(n )d
0 dx

Cl 2 ( B0 B1 )

Determine the aerodynamic characteristics

1 1 x

d c 10 4 c

dx 2 1 x

45 9 c

t
c

C mx ( cx 14 )Cl 14 ( B1 B2 )

1 1
1 cos
d c 10 8

dx 2 1
1 cos
45 18

p
p 0

0.4 12 (1 cos p )

p 1.7722rad 102
13

2 1
2 1 1
B0 1 cos d 1 cos d 0.009
0 45 18
p 10 8
2

Use Matlab!

2 2 1
2 1 1

B1 1 cos cosd 1 cos cosd 0.0815

0 45 18
p 10 8

2 2 1
2 1 1

B2 1 cos cos2d 1 cos cos2d 0.0138

0 45 18
p 10 8

Cl 2 ( B0 B1 )
2 0.2279 ol 2.08

Cmc / 4 ( B1 B2 )
0.0532

x / c (1 cos )
1
2

c
0

V
1
4

t
c

2 d
Bn c ( ) cos(n )d
0 dx

Cl 2 ( B0 B1 )

C mx ( cx 14 )Cl 14 ( B1 B2 )

16

Comparison
with data

Summary of
airfoil data
Abbott, Ira H Von
Doenhoff, Albert E
Stivers, Louis, Jr

Cl

Cmc/4

http://naca.larc.nasa.gov/re
ports/1945/naca-report-824/

15

Example 4 Helicopter Rotor

The loading distribution Cp is measured
on a helicopter rotor airfoil section as a
function of angle of attack. Estimate the
change in loading produced by a 2 degree
change in angle of attack.

t
c

u
l

x / c (1 cos )
1
2

c
0

2 d
Bn c ( ) cos(n )d
0 dx

22 B0 1 cos
C p ( )
4 Bn sin( n )
sin
n 1

16

Comparison with Exact

NACA 0012

NACA 0012

1.5
2

2o angle of attack

Cp at 2

4o angle of attack

Cp at 4

1.5

Change in Cp

Cp

Cp

0.5

Thin airfoil theory

1

0
0.5

-0.5

-1
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

0
0

0.2

0.4

0.8

x/c

x/c
0.05

0.05
y/c

y/c

0.6

0
-0.05

0
-0.05

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5
x/c

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5
x/c

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

17