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The purpose of this study is to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of a low-to-moderate-aspect-ratio, tapered, untwisted, unswept wing, equipped of sheared wing tips.

In this work, wind tunnel tests were made to study the influence in aerodynamic characteristics over a typical low-to-moderate-aspect-ratio wing of a general aviation aircraft, equipped with sheared – swept and tapered planar – wing tips. An experimental parametric study of different wing tips was tested. Variations in its leading and trailing edge sweep angle as well as variations in wing tip taper ratio were considered. Sheared wing tips modify the flow pattern in the outboard region of the wing producing a vortex flow at the wing tip leading edge, enhancing lift at high angles of attack.

The induced drag is responsible for nearly 50% of aircraft total drag and can be reduced through modifications to the wing tip. Some wing tip models present complex geometries and many of them present benefits in particular flight conditions. Results have demonstrated that sweeping the wing tip leading edge between 60 and 65 degrees offers an increment in wing aerodynamic efficiency, especially at high lift conditions. However, results have demonstrated that moderate wing tip taper ratio (0.50) has better aerodynamic benefits than highly tapered wing tips (from 0.25 to 0.15), even with little less wing tip leading edge sweep angle (from 57 to 62 degrees). The moderate wing tip taper ratio (0.50) offers more wing area and wing span than the wings with highly tapered wing tips, for the same aspect ratio wing.

Although many studies have been reported on the aerodynamics of wing tips, most of them presented complex non-planar geometries and were developed for cruise flight in high subsonic regime (low lift coefficient). In this work, an exploration and parametric study through wind tunnel tests were made, to evaluate the influence in aerodynamic characteristics of a low-to-moderate-aspect-ratio, tapered, untwisted, unswept wing, equipped of sheared wing tips (wing tips highly swept and tapered).

Aircraft wings, one of the most important parts of an aircraft, have seen changes in its topological and design arrangement of both the internal structures and external shape during the past decades. This study, a numerical, aims to minimize the weight of multilaminate composite aerospace structures using multiobjective optimization.

The methodology started with the determination of the requirements, both imposed by the certifying authority and those inherent to the light, aerobatic, simple, economic and robust (LASER) project. After defining the requirements, the loads that the aircraft would be subjected to during its operation were defined from the flight envelope considering finite element analysis. The design vector consists of material choice for each laminate of the structure (20 in total), ply number and lay-up sequence (respecting the manufacturing rules) and main spar position to obtain a lightweight and cheap structure, respecting the restrictions of stress, margins of safety, displacements and buckling.

The results obtained indicated a predominance of the use of carbon fiber. The predominant orientation found on the main spar flange was 0° with its location at 28% of the local chord, in the secondary and main web were ±45°, the skins also had the main orientation at ±45°.

The key innovations in this paper include the evaluation, development and optimization of a laminated composite structure applied to a LASER aircraft wings considering both structural performance and manufacturing costs in multiobjetive optimization. This paper is one of the most advanced investigations performed to composite LASER aircraft.

WRITING an introduction to an article by Mr S. B. Gates on Trailing‐Edge Flaps, which appeared in these columns in 1937, the Editor felt constrained to admit his bewilderment over the number and variety of types of high‐lift aid which then existed. Without intending any disrespect, I imagine that the progress of years must have added to his embarrassment. It has certainly added to the number of devices in use and under test.

In this article the requirement leading to the design is discussed and this is followed by a general description of the aircraft and its operating efficiency. The accommodation is described, with particular reference to the flight deck and equipment. The various systems and installations are next reviewed; followed by a detailed description of the various structural components, which, in many cases, have been designed round these systems. The development work that has been done in order to allow design and construction to be completed will be described in some detail in a later article.

A two‐spar cantilever box beam with forty‐five degrees sweep and oblique ribs placed parallel to the root clamping section was the subject of a series of static tests. Stress and strain distributions were determined, primarily in a region distant from the root and tip disturbances, to permit a stringent comparison with three well‐known swept wing theories and the simple theory of bending. Torsional and flexural stiffnesses were also measured and compared with these theories. The sequence of calculation for each method is presented and it is found that two of the theories provide accurate predictions of the stresses, strains and stiffnesses. The influence of rivet slip and rivet flexibility on the stiffnesses of the box is mentioned. As a secondary aim of the investigation, the distribution of normal and shear strain has been measured in the cover skin and spar webs at the root connexion. The design of swept box examined has been the subject of research in a number of establishments and a review of this other work is included.

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of two types of winglets, multi-tip and raked, on the performance of sinusoidal and simple leading-edge wings and compares it by a numerical method.

The wing configuration in this study is rectangular and uses NACA0020 section, and all simulations are performed by a numerical method based on finite volume and base pressure algorithm in Reynolds 2 × [10]^5. In the mentioned numerical method, the flow is considered turbulent, and the k-ω-SST model is used. To calculate the stresses on the wing surface, the mesh is extended to below the viscous layer, and a second-order upstream accuracy is used to calculate the convection flux.

The use of raked and multi-tip winglets for the sinusoidal edge of the wing improved aerodynamic performance by 5.12 and 2.28%, respectively, and the greatest effect of these two winglets was on increasing the lifting force and reducing the inductive drag, respectively. Also, by examining the distribution of induced vortices around the configurations, it was found that the curvature of the sinusoidal wing tip at the angles of attack before stall reduced the strength of the induced vortices and, the use of winglet during and after stall, caused increased aerodynamic performance of the sinusoidal wing.

The whale is an international species of aquatic animal found in most of the world’s oceans. It has large fin aspect ratios that have a series of bulges at the edge of the attack, which improves the aerodynamic performance near and after stall. Today, one of the fields of research is the use of this idea in the wings of micro air vehicle.

Winglet reduces induced drag in simple wings. So far, the effect of winglets on wings with sinusoidal attack edges has not been investigated.

IN an earlier article dealing with the general aspects of clastic distortion phenomena, which appeared in an issue of Aeronautics, mention was made of the various factors which tend either to promote, or to damp out and eliminate the onset of the aerodynamic inertia elastic vibration phenomena known as flutter, and it was pointed out that in this respect the provision of an adequate measure of rigidity, both as regards to twisting and flexure of the wing or tail surface structure is one of the most effective safeguards against the occurrence of torsional‐flexural flutter.

Repeated loading tests on a D.H.104 wing and fin were made by the de Havilland Aircraft Co.

THE efficient design and construction of the latest types of Swedish military aircraft, with wings with high critical Mach numbers, has necessitated a thorough investigation into the structural behaviour of swept and delta wings of both the thin and thick types. It is the main purpose of this paper to present some important test results and pertinent details of some of the small scale models which have been built to supplement the theoretical estimation of the stress distribution and deflexion patterns. In some cases these models have also been constructed to provide information on certain unusual structural configurations, which would have otherwise taken many months to obtain by using approximate theoretical methods. The stress distributions for each model are illustrated in such a way that comparison between the different types of structures may readily be made.