2011 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Aerospace Engineering Activity 1.2.6 Airfoil Simulation Page 1

Activity 1.2.6 Airfoil Simulation

Introduction
Airfoils have a complex geometry designed to direct airflow. This velocity change
results forces that affect aircraft performance. This can be simulated using a
computer to provide an estimate of expected performance.

In this activity you will design an airfoil to meet the design criteria.



Equipment
PC with Internet access or FoilSim III Student Version 1.4d software
Engineering notebook
Pencil

Procedure
1. Use Internet Explorer to launch the FoilSim online version which can be
found at http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/foil3.html. When the
JAVA app pops up click on LATER. Give the app time to come up. If you do
not follow these direction you will get an error message.
2011 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Aerospace Engineering Activity 1.2.6 Airfoil Simulation Page 2
2. Design the airfoil to achieve the results given by your teacher.
a. Use the geometry symmetric, high center, flat plate, flat bottom, negative
camber, ellipse or curve plate.


b. Change the Lift and Drag to Cl and Cd to compare results.



2011 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Aerospace Engineering Activity 1.2.6 Airfoil Simulation Page 3
c. Your airfoil shape results can be seen graphically using the gauges button
as shown below. The final quantitative results are available using the Data
tab.


3. Set the size of the airfoil Chord to .25 set the size of the span to .25 use
the zoom slider to view the airfoil.
4. Set the First Angle of Attack to -20
O
and the Final Angle of Attack to 20
O
and the
Angle of Attack Step to 5
O
. Record the C
l
and C
d
for each angle of attack.
Complete the Excel chart in groupshare (foilsim 1).
Symmetric
Angle Cl Cd
0 0.888 0.344
5 1.163 0.577
10 1.373 0.826
15 1.434 0.957
20 1.137 0.732
-5 0.518 0.155
-10 -0.0 0.086
-15 -0.464 0.218
-20 -0.517 0.281
Conclusion
1. What parameters impact the Cl and Cd?

Angle of attack

2. Explain why these have such an impact.
These have impact because they change the movement and/or speed of the plane.