Join /r/Aerodynamics!

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working on designing a fixed-wing UAV and am in need of a detailed blueprint or design plan that matches (or is close to) the following dimensions:

• Wingspan: 109.6 cm
• Fuselage Length: 70 cm
• Other Dimensions: Currently unsure but open to suggestions based on typical proportional designs.

The UAV will primarily be used for competetions and I’d like a design that balances stability, efficiency, and ease of construction.

If anyone has open-source plans, personal designs they’d be willing to share, or can point me toward resources where I could find such blueprints, I’d greatly appreciate it.

I’m also open to suggestions regarding:

• Ideal airfoil profiles for this wingspan.
• Material recommendations for lightweight and durable construction.
• Electronics and power system integration for optimal performance.

Feel free to ask if you need more details or context about the project!

Thanks in advance for your help! 😊

Hello everybody :)

I am currently doing research for a project regarding Aircraft Design in university and trying to find a relation for estimating the zero lift angle of attack for a wing. I found something in DATCOM but it is only really applicable for Wings with NACA airfoils. I have an E210 (13,64%) Profile, so there is my Problem. I tried to find something in Raymer too but didn’t find anything usable. I would be happy and thankful if someone here has any idea.

I've been invited to take the test for aerodynamic surface design graduate (aston martin), which is about 55 minutes long. Has anyone recently attempted the test? If so, what kind of questions should I expect?

The Kutta law states Lift Force=ρVΓ, we can use dimensional analysis here and see that the dimensions of the lift is [MLT-2] but the dimensions of ρVΓ is [ML-3][LT-1][L2T-1]=[MT-2] which is not equal to the dimensions of force so am i missing smth about the equation itself or is there some crazy hidden detail that im not picking up?

I feel like I should be able to figure this out but my brain is maxed out for other reasons. If I put a box fan at the top of the stairs blowing into the hallway, would that create a slight positive pressure in the bedrooms (and help reduce drafts from the windows)? I want to help move warm air to the rooms from the first floor fireplace anyways but wondering about this added benefit... Thanks!

When flow seperates behind an object there is low pressure and drag increase. How is an aerfoil stalling and the flow detatching on the suction side creating higher pressure than attached air? In our lecture lift was shown as integral over ∆c_p whith the formula for c_p=(p-p_inf)/q_inf=1-(V/V_inf)^2

q_inf=(1/2)rhoV_inf Shouldn't the speed be higher due to the back flow? What am I missing?

Everywhere I look for an answer it just says Lift decreases when stalling but not why in detail. Would very much appreciate an explanation because I have been trying to get an answer for two days.

Hello friends.

I'm new into aerodynamics world and I'm searching for my first software for fixed-wings drone aerodynamic simulations. During my researches, OpenFOAM seemed to be a good tool, but I've heard some cons due to it's suposed complexities to operate and slow learning curve.

OpenFOAM is capable of this task (simulate aerodynamics for fixed-wing drones)? Can I calculate forces on it (like lift and drag)?

I'm kinda lost because, as I said, I'm completely new in this field. Thanks in advance for all the kind answers :)

Hi guys, right now I am doing my masters in aerodynamics, I am considering specializing in Supersonics for my career. So I would like to know how vast the job opportunities are in this field.

Thanks a lot for answering!

Why do rear wings on cars not have fins like diffusers do, why does the diffuser need them and the rear wing doesn’t?

I've been working on this question for a little while concerning a novel I'm working on. I've managed to use my high-school-level knowledge of math to figure out the force needed to lift a heavy weight of approximately three hundred pounds, but I'm afraid that's where my ability to work things out meets its match.

I have no idea how to make heads or tails of the math required to calculate engine size and speed, as well as every other variable that might be necessary.

I apologize if this is the wrong place to ask, but I would appreciate help with this topic.

Hello all I am working on a new rear deck lid for my track car, the vehicle must be run with windows down. Would holes in the trunk around the license plate area let air out and reduce drag? Or would it cause issues? Any advice or insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hi, I just started my master's in aerodynamics and I need a book recommendation to learn about boundary layers from basics and have most of it in one place rather than referring to many books at once. Which book do I need to follow?

When I have a hovercraft level with the ground, the air exists the bottom equally on all sides. But if somehow the level is changed and not symmetrical any more, would not at the side with the smaller gap the speed increase and thus pressure decrease (and v.v. on the other side), and thus the lower side get sucked to the ground even more (possibly until chocked flow is realized)? Iwo, is not the disturbance self-amplifying (at least until a certain degree)? How come hovercraft are "stable" in that respect? Hope the sketch makes sense. Thank you.

https://preview.redd.it/2ytkdjy24czd1.jpg?width=518&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f3727932871f6ddbf33eb1a0005253ac9eb4af36

For a uni project designing a wind turbine blade. It doesn’t have to be the best or groundbreaking but has to be functional and efficient. I’m assuming the aerofoils selection process will differ somewhat from a standard wing. Is there a best way to go around this and does anyone know programmes for designing, analysing or comparing the aerofoils. Something similar to xflr5?

Hello Everyone, I have been learning about aerodynamics for a few months so forgive me if I did not understand something, here is the question: Just like how wind blowing over an aerofoil generates lift why can't the same concept be used to make a parachute like structure generate lift ? Say we have a small orifice through which wind can pass through in the middle which in turn passes over the aerofoil parts spread out across the orifice like an umbrella 🏖️ (think of the red and white parts as lift generating aerofoil). I was wondering if it's possible...

So I have a presentation to do in 3 days. I have to design a streamlined body using aerodynamics. Know that I am not an aerodynamic student and only know the very basics. Im looking to creating a 3d model of a streamlined version of a flat plate where the bottom is flat and the top is streamlined.

The designing needs to be based on principles and not hunchs.

Can someone here please help me. My life depends on it.

I'm looking for a good reference for our research paper. Our study involves Computational Fluid Dynamics on a Swept back wing with a winglet. Our research adviser said we need a reference that gives an average angle of attack or a range of angles of attack for when a Swept back wing stalls or reaches its critical angle of attack.

I'm a senior in college and I could really use some help, everyone.

I want to make a ducted fan thruster produce less noise for a given thrust ourput, or at least shift the sound to lower frequencies. Ideally the thruster should keep good efficiency and I can't just make it bigger and decrease the fan speed b/c size and mass constraints.

I have no idea where to start, or how to predict the (acoustic) performance of any given design. Im looking for sources on this topic, studies or theory. Or just rules of thumb even. Thanks

Would a Picasso be more aerodynamic going backwards? Not including the mirrors, bodywork details , etc.

I'm an Aerospace Engineering student responsible for the Aerodynamics portion of a Quadrotor drone project. After searching for BEMT software to analyze rotor options for our drones, I found JBlade, which has a graphical interface and includes XFLR5 integrated within it (or so I thought). However, I haven't been able to compile it on my Debian 12 system due to issues with lgqlviewer.

I'm using this GitHub repository - https://github.com/MrTypename/jblade-code. Has anyone worked with JBlade before? Any suggestions are welcome!

Can anyone tell me any research study related to this topics? i am hoping that someone can give me direction for actual vortex dynamics study not just vortex phenomena over a airfoil. Something like that

Essentially title, I'm looking for any and all information about tandem wings.

I've read a couple of research papers and I took a horse and a handcart through all the wing related Wikipedia pages and checked out some of the suggested reading links at the bottom of the page. But alas, I can't find anything comprehensive on the characteristics of tandem wings and how different parameters affect those characteristics. Here's a few questions I have off the top of my head but I thirst for any and all information

I see a lot of tandem wing layouts use backwards/negative stagger when XFOIL and what I've been able to read suggests that forwards/positive stagger seems to perform better with better stall characteristics. Why would you want negative stagger?

How important is having a shorter rear wing span than the front? I've seen online that it supposedly reduces interference from the front wing but XFOIL has yet to definitively agree with that.

~3C on the x axis seems to be the best gap between the two wings from the paper I found and my simulations. Are there any spacing "rules of thumb" you guys recommend using? Have you encountered any issues with different spacing values on the x and z axis?

XFOIL is showing me that more taper = better up to the extremes (root chord is .31M and I'm showing gains all the way a tip chord of .03M). I'm not very experienced with wing design and it seems rather fishy to work at such extreme values. Is XFOIL feeding me crap or is a lot of taper just that good?

Does flow from tapered wings interact with the tandem layout significantly enough to warrant keeping a close eye on it?

Lastly, I really want to try a joined tapered wing layout due to that sweet sweet sealed leak path, is there anything I should keep in mind when designing it?

As far as I know, you can obtain an airfoil from a zhukovsky transform and optimize it but that kind of airfoils are not suitable for hypersonic regimen. What mathematical tools are required for hypersonic airfoils?