Example: Thin Airfoil Theory

The camber line of the NACA 2612 airfoil is represented by two polynomial expressions. The
first polynomial provides the camber curve forward of the location of maximum camber
,
while
the second provides the curve aft of this location. The point of maximum camber is denoted as
x
cmax
(here x
cmax
= 0.6c), while the chord length of the airfoil is c. The variable z, is the distance
of the camber line above the chord line. (note: there is additional workspace on the next page and
a table of integrals is provided on the last page)

=
2
2 . 1 0555 . 0
c
x
c
x
c
z
for 0 < x/c < x
cmax
/c

+ =
2
2 . 1 2 . 0 125 . 0
c
x
c
x
c
z
for x
cmax
/c < x/c < 1.0

Using thin airfoil theory, find:
a) the angle of attack for zero lift ( 4 marks )
b) the lift coefficient at an angle of attack of 5 degrees ( 1 mark )
c) the moment coefficient about the leading edge at = 5 degrees ( 4 marks )
d) the location of the center of pressure (x
cp
/c) for the lift coefficient given in b) ( 1 mark )

Solution:

Find the location of maximum camber: x
cmux
=
c
2
(1 - cos 0) = u.6c

0 = 1.772 roJ

Camber line slopes:

J(z c )
J(x c )
_
]o
= u.u666 - u.111[
x
c


J(z c )
J(x c )
_
u]t
= u.1S -u.2S [
x
c


Using the transformation:
x
c
=
1
2
(1 - cos 0)

J(z c )
J(x c )
_
]o
= u.u111 - u.uSSScos 0


J(z c )
J(x c )
_
u]t
= u.u2S -u.12S cos 0

Part a),
L=0


o
L=0
= -
1
n
_
Jz
Jx
n
0
(cos 0 - 1)J0

= -
1
n
__ (u.u111 + u.uSSScos 0)(cos 0 - 1)J0
1.772
0
+ _ (u.u2S +u.12S cos 0)(cos 0 - 1)J0
n
1.772
_

= -
1
n
|-u.u194S4 + u.161S8] = -u.u4S2S = -2.S9
o


Part b), C
L
at = 5
o


C
L
= 2n|o - o
L=0
] = 2n|u.u8726 -(-u.u4S2S)]= u.8S26

Part c), C
MLe
at = 5
o


A
n
=
2
n
_
uz
ux
cos n0 J0
n
0


A
1
=
2
n
__ (u.u111 + u.uSSScos 0)(cos 0)J0
1.772
0
+_ (u.u2S + u.12Scos 0)(cos 0)J0
n
1.772
_

A
1
=
2
n
|u.uS461S + u.u7SS4] = u.u814S9

A
2
=
2
n
__ (u.u111 +u.uSSS cos 0)(cos 20)J0
1.772
0
+ _ (u.u2S + u.12Scos 0)(cos 20)J0
n
1.772
_

A
2
=
2
n
|u.u174u1 - u.uS919] = -u.u1S87

C
MIc
= -_
C
L
4
+
n
4
(A
1
- A
2
)_ = -u.28S

Part d), x
cp

x
cp
c
=
1
4
_1 +
n
C
L
(A
1
- A
2
)_ = u.S4u