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DEPARTMENT OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING, IIT BOMBAY

Low Speed Flow past an Airfoil

Group 2, Aerodynamics Lab

Submitted by:

JOHNSON JOHN

(183014003)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SL.NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

1. OBJECTIVE 3

2. THEORY 3

3. APPARATUS 5

4. PROCEDURE 5

5. DATA AND 6
CALCULATIONS

6. RESULTS 7

7. CONCLUSION 14

8 REFERENCES 14
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OBJECTIVE
The aim of the experiment is to experimentally investigate low speed flow past an
aerofoil by obtaining pressure distributions, drag, lift, moments, and their corresponding
co-efficients at different angles of attack for the given airfoil.

THEORY
An Airfoil in a flow field is subjected to both viscous forces and pressure forces. The
sum of forces that acts normal to the free stream direction is the Lift and the sum of
forces that acts parallel to the free stream direction is the Drag.

The pressure distribution on the airfoil is expressed in dimensionless form by the

pressure coefficient Cp.

(𝑝 − 𝑝𝛼 )
𝐶𝑝 =
0.5𝜌𝑣 2

Where p = pressure at the point on airfoil surface

𝑝𝛼 = Free stream pressure

The pressure Coefficient of upper(Cpu) and lower surface(Cpl) of airfoil helps in

calculation of of normal (Cn) and axial coefficient (Ca).

1 𝑐
𝐶𝑛 = ∫ (𝐶 − 𝐶𝑝𝑢 )𝑑𝑥
𝑐 0 𝑝𝑙

Cpl = Coefficient of pressure for lower surface

Cpu = Coefficient of pressure of upper surface

C= chord of airfoil (15.1 inches)

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1 𝑐 𝑑𝑦𝑢 𝑑𝑦𝑙
𝐶𝑎 = ∫ (𝐶𝑝𝑙 − 𝐶𝑝𝑢 ) 𝑑𝑥
𝑐 0 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦𝑢
Where = Slope of upper surface of airfoil
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦𝑙
= Slope of lower surface of airfoil
𝑑𝑥
The coefficient of lift (Cl), is calculated by

𝐶𝑙 = 𝐶𝑛 cos 𝛼 − Ca sin 𝛼

Where α = angle of attack

Coefficient of Pitching moment about leading edge, Cmle is given by

1 𝑐
𝐶𝑚𝑙𝑒 = ∫ (𝐶 − 𝐶𝑝𝑢 )𝑥𝑑𝑥
𝑐 2 0 𝑝𝑙

Coefficient of Pitching moment about quarter chord, 𝐶𝑚𝑐 is given by

4

𝐶𝑙
𝐶𝑚𝑐 = 𝐶𝑚𝑙𝑒 +
4 4

The location of center of pressure, Xcp is given by

𝐶𝑚𝑙𝑒 𝑐
𝑋𝑐𝑝 =
𝐶𝑙

In order to calculate coefficient of drag (Cdtotal), momentum change across airfoil

upstream and downstream obtained by measuring wake of airfoil in term of velocity
change.
𝜌𝛼
𝐶𝑑 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = ∫ 𝜌2 𝑢2 (𝑢2 − 𝑢1 )𝑑𝑦
0.5𝜌𝛼 𝑣 2 𝛼 𝑐

Where u2 = max velocity in the wake

u1 = velocity at the point

The coefficient of pressure drag (Cd) is given by

𝐶𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝐶𝑛 sin α + 𝐶𝑎 cos 𝛼

The coefficient of skin pressure drag (Cd skin friction),

Cd skinfriction = Cd total − Cd pressure

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APPARATUS
The experimental setup consists of a low speed blow down suction type wind tunnel
with a NACA 0012 Airfoil mounted in the test section. There is a speed control system
to vary the velocity within a range of 10 to 30 m/s inside the test section. The
NACA0012 airfoil has a chord length of 15.1 inches. 16 pressure probes are provided
on both sides of airfoil surface to estimate the pressure distribution. The angle of attack
of the airfoil can be varied. A Pitot static tube is also available behind the airfoil which
can be moved along and normal to the direction of the flow for measurement of wake
profile. A digital manometer is used to measure the dynamic pressure.

PROCEDURE
1. First the atmospheric pressure and room temperature was recorded. This is to
calculate the density of air, ρ.

2. The given velocity of 14 m/s was set in the test section by means of the speed
control system. Velocity was calculated by the use of Pitot-Static tube mounted in the
test section.

3. Airfoil was set at an angle of attack of -60. Pressure distribution along the upper
and lower surface of the airfoil was measured by means of the 16 probes and digital
manometer. The procedure was repeated for angle of attacks of -40, -20, 00, 20, 40, 60,
80 and 100.

4. Airfoil was again set at an angle of attack of -40. The velocity profile behind the
airfoil was measured using the Pitot Static tube and Digital manometer.. The procedure
was repeated for angle of attacks of 00, 40, and 80.
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5. Cp was calculated at different positions on the surface of the airfoil and Cp

distribution along the airfoil chord was plotted for the different angles of attack.

6. Cl, Xcp, Cmle, Cmc/4 were calculated for different angles of attack and plotted.

7. Wake velocity profile behind the airfoil was plotted between non-dimensional
velocity (v/vmax) vs non-dimensional distance (y/ymax).

8. Cdtotal, Cdpressure and Cdskinfriction were calculated and plotted against different
angles of attack.

DATA AND CALCULATIONS

Ambient pressure, P=100020 Pa

Ambient Temperature, T=300.5 K

𝑃
Density, ρ = = 1.16 kg/m3
𝑅𝑇

Free stream Dynamic pressure, ΔP = 114.2 Pa

Free stream Velocity, Vα= 14.03 m/s

𝛥𝑃
𝐶𝑝 =
0.5𝜌𝑣 2

1 𝑐
𝐶𝑛 = ∫ (𝐶 − 𝐶𝑝𝑢 )𝑑𝑥
𝑐 0 𝑝𝑙

1 𝑐 𝑑𝑦𝑢 𝑑𝑦𝑙
𝐶𝑎 = ∫ (𝐶𝑝𝑙 − 𝐶𝑝𝑢 ) 𝑑𝑥
𝑐 0 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝐶𝑙 = 𝐶𝑛 cos 𝛼 − Ca sin 𝛼

1 𝑐
𝐶𝑚𝑙𝑒 = 2 ∫ (𝐶𝑝𝑙 − 𝐶𝑝𝑢 )𝑥𝑑𝑥
𝑐 0

𝐶𝑙
𝐶𝑚𝑐 = 𝐶𝑚𝑙𝑒 +
4 4
𝐶𝑚𝑙𝑒 𝑐
𝑋𝑐𝑝 =
𝐶𝑙
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𝜌𝛼
𝐶𝑑 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = ∫ 𝜌2 𝑢2 (𝑢2 − 𝑢1 )𝑑𝑦
0.5𝜌𝛼 𝑣 2 𝛼 𝑐

𝐶𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝐶𝑛 sin α + 𝐶𝑎 cos 𝛼

Cd skinfriction = Cd total − Cd pressure

RESULTS
Cp distribution along the chord of the airfoil at different angles of attack is given below.

Cp vs x/c α = -6
1

0.5

Cp 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
-0.5 Upper surface
Lower surface
-1

-1.5

-2

x/c
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Cp vs x/c α = -4
0.6

0.4

0.2
Cp
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
-0.2 Upper Surface
lower surface
-0.4

-0.6

-0.8

-1

-1.2 x/c

Cp vs x/c
α = -2
0.8

0.6

Cp 0.4

0.2

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 Upper Surface
-0.2 Lower Surface

-0.4

-0.6

-0.8

-1 x/c
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Cp vs x/c
α=0
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

-0.2
Cp

-0.4

Upper Surface
-0.6
Lower Surface

-0.8

-1

-1.2

-1.4 x/c

Cp vs x/c α=2
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
-0.2
Cp
-0.4

-0.6

-0.8 Upper Surface

-1 Lower Surface

-1.2

-1.4

-1.6

x/c
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Cp vs x/c

1
α=4
0.8

Cp 0.6

0.4

0.2
Upper Surface
0
Lower Surface
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
-0.2

-0.4

-0.6

-0.8

-1
x/c

Cp vs x/c
α=6
1

Cp0.5

0 Upper Surface
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
Lower Surface
-0.5

-1

-1.5
x/c
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Cp vs x/c
1.5
α=8

1
Cp

0.5

Upper Surface
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 Lower Surface

-0.5

-1

-1.5
x/c

Cp vs x/c
α = 10
1

0.8

Cp 0.6

0.4

0.2 Upper Surface

Lower Surface
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
-0.2

-0.4

-0.6

x/c
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Cl vs Angle of Attack
0.8

0.6
Slope= 4.20

0.4

0.2
Cl vs angle of attack
0
-10 -5 0 5 10 15

-0.2

-0.4

-0.6
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Cm vs Angle of Attack
0.15

Cm 0.1

0.05

0 Cm(le)
-10 -5 0 5 10 15
Cm(c/4)
-0.05

-0.1

-0.15

-0.2

-0.25
α

Drag vs Angle of attack

0.2

0.15

0.1

Pressure coefficient drag

0.05 Skin Coefficient drag
Total Drag Coefficient

0
-10 -5 0 5 10 15

-0.05

-0.1
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1.2
Wake Profile
Y/Ymax 1

0.8

Alpha = 8
0.6
Alpha=-4

0.4 Alpha=0
Alpha=4
0.2

0
0.9 0.92 0.94 0.96 0.98 1 1.02
V/Vmax

CONCLUSION
The experimental Cp distribution along the surface of the airfoil closely matches with the
theoretical distribution. It is observed that Cl increases with AOA for the symmetric airfoil
with a slope that is less than the theoretical value. The position of Xcp is varying slightly
with change in angle of attack. However there is variation in the drag profile of the
airfoil. This may be due to the error in measurement of velocity in the wake region
behind the airfoil because of the non perpendicularity of the Pitot static tube. Further
there was excessive momentum loss near the upper wall surface behind the airfoil
because of the mounting of the Pitot Static tube. This may have lead to the erroneous
drag profile of the airfoil.

REFERENCES
1. Aerodynamics for Engineers, John J. Bertin, 4th edition, 2002

2. Fundamentals of aerodynamics, J D Anderson, 5th edition, 2010

3. Characteristics of Flow Past a Symmetric Airfoil at Low Reynolds No., Nov 2010

4. Experimental analysis of flow over symmetrical aerofoil, Mayank Pawar, Patel

Institute of Technology, India