2011 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

AE Activity 1.2.8 Airfoil Test Page 1

Activity 1.2.8 Airfoil Test

Introduction
Wings are the fundamental structure that creates lift in an aircraft. Fluid flows in
three dimensions around the wing and generates lift and drag. In this activity you will
add a third dimension to the airfoil created in the previous activity and test the shape
in a wind tunnel.





Equipment
PC with wind tunnel testing software
Wind tunnel
Engineering notebook
Airfoil from airfoil construction activity


2011 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
AE Activity 1.2.8 Airfoil Test Page 2
Procedure
1. Mount the airfoil on the test bed. Adjust the airfoil so the cord line from the
leading edge to the trailing edge is horizontal to the test bed.

Airfoil Leveling

2. Carefully place the test bed into the wind tunnel. Take care to not contact any
surface with the pitot tube or airfoil on the mounting hardware.

Mounting the Test Bed in the Wind Tunnel


2011 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
AE Activity 1.2.8 Airfoil Test Page 3
3. Initiate the wind tunnel testing software. Adjust the wind speed and angle of
attack to verify the airfoil simulation estimates while recording the lift and drag
measurements.

Airfoil Testing


Example Test Result

4. Summarize results in a written report.
5. Save your model for a presentation.

2011 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
AE Activity 1.2.8 Airfoil Test Page 4
Conclusion
1. Explain differences between the airfoil simulation prediction and the wind tunnel
test results.
Wind tunnel data fluctuates.


2. What characteristic of the airfoil had the most significant impact on lift and drag?
Shape.


3. Explain what you would change in the design of your airfoil design?

I dont think I would have changed much. My design worked pretty well and was
easy to build.



Foilsim Data Windtunnel Data
0 deg speed lift drag lift drag

15 0.027 0.0009 0.06 0

30 0.11 0.039 0.034 0.03

40 0.195 0.068 0.071 0.012
5 deg speed


15 0.037 0.017 0.011 0.01

30 0.151 0.069 0.069 0.011

40 0.268 0.123 0.133 0.024
10 deg speed


15 0.045 0.026 0.024 0.004

30 0.182 0.104 0.121 0.025

40 0.323 0.184 0.223 0.056
15 deg speed


15 0.047 0.031 0.028 0.07

30 0.191 0.123 0.16 0.06

40 0.341 0.219 0.286 0.123
20 deg speed


15 0.038 0.023 0.031 0.016

30 0.152 0.092 0.176 0.1

40 0.27 0.192 0.322 0.195