General theory of thin wing sections

Abstract

This report contains a new, simple method of calculating the air forces to which thin wings are subjected at small angles of attack, if their curvature is not too great. Two simple integrals are the result. They contain only the coordinates of the wing section. The first integral gives the angle of attack at which the lift of the wing is zero, the second integral gives the moment experienced by the wing when its angle is zero. The two constants thus obtained are sufficient to determine the lift and moment for any other angle of attack. This with the theory of the aerodynamical induction, and with our empirical knowledge of the drag due to friction, the results are valuable for actual wings also. A particular result obtained is the calculation of the elevator effect. (author)