LIFT AND DRAG MEASUREMENTS OF AN AIRFOIL

1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this experiments is to measure the drag and lift forces exerted on an
airfoil model with varying angle and to pressure distributions around this airfoil.

2. INTRODUCTION
A body immersed in a fluid stream will experience forces due to action of the fluid
stream. It is customary to choose one axis parallel to the free stream and downstream. The force
on the body along this axis is called drag force. A second and important force is perpendicular to
the drag and usually performs a useful job, such as bearing the weight of the body. It is called lift
force. Third component is the side force. Airfoil wing is shown in figure 1. The angle between
the free stream and the chord line is called the angle of attack . The lift force FL, and drag force
FD, vary with this angle. The chord of an airfoil is the straight line joining the mean thickness
line between the airfoil leading edge and trailing edge. When the airfoil has a symmetric section,
the mean line and the chord line both are straight lines and they coincide. An airfoil with a
curved mean line is said to be chambered.

Leading edge
FL

FD
Chamber Line


b (Span)
t

Trailing edge
c
(Chord)

Figure 1. Airfoil wing

3. THEORY AND EQUATIONS

The drag force is the component of force on a body acting parallel to the direction of
motion. The drag force FD on an airfoil body depends upon thickness t, viscosity of fluid , air
flow velocity U, the density of the fluid . When the angle of attack is equal to zero, the drag
coefficient CD is written as

FD
CD = = f (Re) (1)
U 2 A f

The frontal area Af of the airfoil is (Af=t b). The number 1/2 is inserted and hence the
drag coefficient CD is defined as
 FD
CD = = f ( Re)  C D = f ( Re) (2)
1 2
U A f
2

The lift coefficient can be defined as;

FL
CL = = f ( Re)  C L = f ( Re) (3)
1
U 2 A p
2

Where Ap is the planform area. The lift and drag coefficient for an airfoil are functions of both
Reynolds number and angle of attack, . Hence, CL or CD=f(Re,).
The maximum projected area of the airfoil is used to define lift and drag coefficient. These areas
are;
- Frontal area: thickness x span (Af =t.b).
- Planform area: span x chord length (Ap= b.c).
PS PT

C.V

Figure 2. Velocity profiles around on airfoil

Measurement of the air flow velocity: Mean velocity, U, can be found from the stagnation and
static pressures.

PT=PS+PD (4)

Here PD is the dynamic pressure

PD=PT-PS (5)

1
PD =  U2 (6)
2 air

1 2( PT − PS )
air U2 = PT − PS  U= (7)
2  air
 UD h air
Re =
 (8)

4 AC
Dh =
TC (9)
Where
FD = Drag Force (N) PS = Static Pressure (N/m2)
CD = Drag Coefficient U = Mean Velocity (m/s)
FL = Lift Force (N) Re = Reynolds Number
CL = Lift Coefficient air = Air density (kg/m3)
PT = Stagnation Pressure (N/m2)  = Dynamic Viscosity of Air (N/ms)
PD = Dynamic Pressure (N/m2) Dh = Hydraulic Diameter (m)
2
AC = Cross-sectional Area of Channel (m ) TC = Periphery of channel (m)
H= Channel Height (m) B= Channel Width (m)

4. PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS
There are 20 pressure tappings around the airfoil. A computer is used to command the
entire equipment, including processes such as channel selection and the simultaneous collection
and analysis of the data. Pressure outlets from the airfoil are connected to scanning box. Pressure
lines from the scanning box are connected to fittings at the rear of micromanometer. Pneumatic
pressures are applied to both sides of the micromanometer’s diagram. The pneumatic pressure
difference is transferred into a binary-coded-decimal (BCD) output signal, which is fed to the
computer by the micromanometer. Consequently, the microcomputer collects a pre-selected
number of samples for each reading in quick succession memorized and then analysed. Finally
the processed results are printed on a line printer.

The dynamic pressure PD at the entrance of test chamber and the static pressures around
the airfoil are measured by the computer controlled data acquisition system. These results are
processed and plotted by the computer.

5. DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIMENTAL SET UP

Schematic diagram of the set up is shown in figure 3. The mean velocity is measured by
the Pitot-static tube that is placed in the middle of channel. The airfoil body is placed behind the
Pitot-static tube and it can be rotated with a model holder. The drag and lift forces are recorded
from the main display.
From the above measurements; the mean velocity U, the drag coefficient CD, and the lift
coefficient CL can be calculated.

6. CONSTANT VALUES
t= 19 mm b= 297 mm
c= 152 mm f=780 kg/m3
air=1.2 kg/m3 H=0.3 m
B=0.35 m
 Calculation of density of air
- Measure the atmospheric pressure and room (air) temperature.
- Calculate the air density air = P RT where R: Ideal gas constant.

7. PERFORMING THE EXPERIMENT

For performing the experiment, procedures listed below must be followed.
1- Push the start button on.
2- Wait for 15 minutes for the configuration of the main display from which the lift and drag
forces can be recorded manually
3- Follow the procedure list given in section 4 to measure and plot the pressure distribution
around the airfoil.
4- Record the total pressure PT and the static pressure PS levels from the 24 tube manometer
5- Rotate the airfoil to change the angle from the model holder.
6- Record; FD, FL from the main display.
7- Now, the experiment is over. Push the stop button off.

8. PREPARATION OF THE REPORT

1- Purpose of the experiment, experimental methods, and experimental set up must be introduced
briefly.
2- The required values such as, U, CD, CL, and Re must be calculated.
3- The obtained results must be presented as tables and graphics.
4- Plot CD - Re, CL - Re, CD - , CL - , and CD - CL.
5- Plot pressure distributions around the airfoil.
6- Discuss the results.
Table of results
U  PT PS PD FL FD Re CD CL
(m/s) (m) (m) (m) (N) (N)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
 4
8
5 1
10 6 3

9
7

1- Diffuser 6- Button (On-Off)

2- Model holder 7- 20 way scanning box
3- Static Pressure Tapping 8- Pitot-static tube
4- Total Pressure tube 9- Stand level on assembly
5- 24 Tube manometer 10- Silencer

Figure 3. Schematic diagram of the experimental set-up