Experiment No.

12
Objective:
To investigate the effect of angle of attack on lift generation of Parabolic object at constant
velocity.

Experimental Setup:
Educational Wind Tunnel

Overview:
The demonstration Wind Tunnel Model No. FM-1849-28 was developed for experimentation and
demonstration purposes in the fields of aerodynamics and fluid mechanics. It is a subsonic,
open wind tunnel with a square measurement-section profile. The extensive range of available
accessories permits the performance of numerous experiments.

Figure 1:Wind Tunnel

Technical Description:

Figure 2:Wind Tunnel

A wind tunnel essentially consists of the following sections:

1. Pre chamber with flow straightener (1)

2. Jet (2)
3. Measurement section (3)
4. Diffuser (4)
5. Fan (5)

Theory:
Parabolic Object:

The parabola is the locus of points in the plane that are equidistant from both the directrix
and the focus.

Surface produce by revolving the above parabola around its vertical axis called parabolic
surface and whole three-dimensional geometry is call paraboloid.

Air Flow around a Parabolic:

Figure Shows the air flow over parabolic at different angle of attacks.
Forcing acting on Parabolic Specimen:
Have you ever thrown a Frisbee? It flies because of four forces. These same four forces
help an airplane fly. The four forces are lift, thrust, drag, and weight. As a Frisbee flies through
the air, lift holds it up. You gave the Frisbee thrust with your arm. Drag from the air made the
Frisbee slow down. Its weight brings the Frisbee back to Earth again.You see them everyday
airplanes, jets, and helicopters, soaring, zooming, and even roaring through the skies. We may take
flight for granted; yet, knowing the science behind it gives us a better understanding of the marvels
of air travel. Wings keep an airplane up in the air, but the four forces are what make this happen.
They push a plane up, down, forward, or slow it down. The four forces are

1. Drag

2. Thrust

3. Lift

4. Weight

Thrust is a force that moves an aircraft in the direction of the motion. It is created with a propeller,
jet engine, or rocket. Air is pulled in and then pushed out in an opposite direction. One example is
a household fan.

Drag is the force that acts opposite to the direction of motion. It tends to slow an object. Drag is
caused by friction and differences in air pressure. An example is putting your hand out of a moving
car window and feeling it pull back.

Weight is the force caused by gravity.

Lift is the force that holds an airplane in the air. The wings create most of the lift used by
airplanes.The way the four forces act on the airplane make the plane does different things. Each
force has an opposite force that works against it. Lift works opposite of weight. Thrust works
opposite of drag. When the forces are balanced, a plane flies in a level direction. If gravity and
drag are bigger than lift and thrust, the plane goes down. Just as drag holds something back as a
response to wind flow, lift pushes something up. The air pressure is higher on the bottom side of
a wing, so it is pushed upward.
Experimental Procedure:

1. Mount the parabolic model in the middle of the working section.

2. Start the wind tunnel, after the desired wind speed I reached set the object to the zero
angle. This is achieved by turning the holder until the model is directed to zero angel of
attack. All angles will be measured with reference to this angle position.
3. Change angle of attack by keeping constant velocity.
4. Measure the drag and lift forces at different setting angles.

Specimen Specifications:

Diameters of Parabolic = 80mm

Length of Parabolic= 82.2mm

Observations:

Wind Velocity: _________________

Sr# Angle of attack Lift Force Drag Force

(α) Degree FL (N) FD (N)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.
Graphs:
Draw following graphs

➢ Angle of Attack VS Lift Force

➢ Angle of Attack VS Drag Force

Conclusion:
 CLO-3 Rubrics

CLO_3: To investigate the aerodynamic parameters i.e. lift and drag of various bodies.
Criteria Excellent (4) Good (3) Fair (2) Poor (1) score
Instruments and Instruments and Instruments or
Technical Some misuse or
tools are used tools are mostly tools are
Soundness / inefficiency in
appropriately used misused or
performance instrument usage
and effectively appropriately ineffective
Data is
comprehensive, Data is
Data is mostly
relevant, and incomplete,
comprehensive, Data is somewhat
Data accurately irrelevant, or
relevant, and comprehensive and
Collection recorded. Data inaccurately
accurately relevant. Data
and is effectively recorded. Data
recorded. Data is presentation is
Presentation presented using presentation
mostly effectively adequate
appropriate lacks clarity or
presented
tables, graphs, coherence
and visuals
Analysis
demonstrates
Analysis
deep
demonstrates
understanding Analysis addresses Analysis lacks
understanding of
of the data and some relevant depth or
the data and
addresses all aspects. relevance.
addresses most
Data Analysis relevant aspects. Conclusions are Conclusions are
relevant aspects.
Conclusions somewhat illogical or not
Conclusions
drawn are supported and supported by
drawn are mostly
logical, well logical data
logical and
supported, and
supported
aligned with
data

Scoring Guide:
• 4: Excellent - Exceeds expectations; demonstrates exceptional proficiency and mastery.
• 3: Good - Meets expectations; demonstrates solid understanding and competency.
• 2: Fair - Partially meets expectations; some areas need improvement or refinement.
• 1: Poor - Does not meet expectations; significant deficiencies or lack of understanding.