AIRFOIL GEOMETRY

AND CONSTRUCTION
AIRFOIL GEOMETRY AND CONSTRUCTION
AIRFOIL GEOMETRY AND CONSTRUCTION
MEAN CAMBER LINE

Line joining the mid points between the upper and lower surfaces of an airfoil and measured perpendicular to the
mean camber line.

CHORD LINE
Straight line which joins the end points of the mean camber line.

THICKNESS
Is the height of an airfoil measured normal to the chord line. The ratio of the maximum thickness to the chord
length is called thickness ratio.

CAMBER
Maximum distance of the mean line from the chord line.

LEADING EDGE RADIUS

Radius of a circle which is tangent to the upper and lower surfaces. The center of this circle is located on a
tangent to the mean line drawn through the leading edge of this line.
AIRFOIL GEOMETRY AND CONSTRUCTION
 Examples of NACA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Designation

4 SERIES AIRFOIL: EXAMPLE NACA 4412

4 – maximum camber 0.04c (c = chord)
4 – position of maximum camber at 0.4c from leading edge (LE)
12 – maximum thickness 0.12c

5 SERIES AIRFOIL: EXAMPLE NACA 23015

2 – maximum camber 0.02c
– the design lift coefficient is 0.15 times the first digit for this series ( = 0.15 (first digit))
30 – position of maximum camber at (0.30/2) = 0.15c from leading edge (LE)
15 – maximum thickness 0.15c
AIRFOIL GEOMETRY AND CONSTRUCTION
Examples of NACA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Designation

6 SERIES AIRFOIL: EXAMPLE NACA 653-421

6 – series designation
5 – Minimum pressure occurs at 0.5c from LE
3 – the drag coefficient is near its minimum value over a range of lift coefficient of 0.3 above and below the design lift
coefficient
4 – design lift coefficient is 0.4
21 – maximum thickness is 0.21c

7 SERIES AIRFOIL: EXAMPLE NACA 747A315

7 – series designation
4 – favorable pressure gradient (minimum pressure) on the upper surface from LE to 0.4c at the design lift coefficient
7 – favorable pressure gradient on the lower surface from LE to 0.7c at the design lift coefficient
A – a serial letter to distinguish different sections having the same designation but different mean line or thickness
3 – design lift coefficient 0.3
15 – max thickness 0.15c
EXAMPLE 1

AIRFOIL PROFILE: NACA 2214

Chord c = 110 cm

Required:
(a) Camber
(b) Position at camber
(c) Maximum thickness

EXAMPLE 2
Airfoil profile: NACA 23018
Chord, c = 110 cm

Required:
(d) Camber
(e) Position of camber
(f) Coefficient of lift
(g) Maximum thickness
EXAMPLE 1

AIRFOIL PROFILE: NACA 2214

Chord c = 110 cm

Required:
(a) Camber
(b) Position at camber
(c) Maximum thickness

EXAMPLE 2
Airfoil profile: NACA 23018
Chord, c = 110 cm

Required:
(d) Camber
(e) Position of camber
(f) Coefficient of lift
(g) Maximum thickness