| The visualization
at right comes from a wind tunnel simulation model created by NASA. The
simulator provides the scientist with a number of options by which to
design a variety of airfoils (wings). The simulator shows two
visualizations:
- A visualization of the airfoil shape with streamlines
representing the flow of air over the wing.
- A visualization of the pressure for both the upper and
lower surfaces of the wing, as a function of pressure in units of
pounds per square inch (psi).
The visualization of the wing surface shows blue lines going over the
upper surface of the wing, and white lines that are affecting the lower
surface. This particular wing is facing the wind at an angle of 15
degrees, has a cambre (curvature) of 20%, and a thickness of 10% (as a
function of the chord, or length of the wing). The streamlines show
that this wing should be flying, and that analysis is confirmed by the
fact that the graphical visualization shows that the pressure on the
upper surface of the wing is lower than that of the lower surface. This
pressure differential results in lift. In this case, the lift on the
wing is 10,711 pounds, and that is the weight of an airplane that could
be lifted under these conditions. |
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