Properties of low-aspect-ratio pointed wings at speeds below and above the speed of soundLow aspect ratio wings having pointed planforms are treated on the assumption that the flow potentials in planes at right angles of the long axis of the airfoils are similar to the corresponding two dimensional potentials. For the limiting case of small angles of attack and low aspect ratios the theory brings out the following significant properties: (1) the lift of a slender pointed airfoil moving in the direction of its long axis depends on the increase in width of the sections in a downstream direction; (2) spanwise loading of such an airfoil is independent of planform and approaches the distribution giving a minimum induced drag; and (3) lift distribution of a pointed airfoil traveling point-foremost is relatively unaffected by the compressibility of the air below or above the speed of sound.
Document ID
19760011994
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other
Authors
Jones, R. T. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)