Notes on propeller design
The best distribution of the thrust over the length of the propeller blade is investigated, taking into account chiefly the slipstream loss and the friction between the blades and the air.
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The best distribution of the thrust over the length of the propeller blade is investigated, taking into account chiefly the slipstream loss and the friction between the blades and the air.
The air flow and the air force created by all elements of the propeller blades lying in a ring located between two concentric circles around the propeller axis are independent of what happens in other rings.
The different kinds of energy losses of the propeller and the values of the constants determining them are discussed.
The choice of the numbers of revolutions and of the diameter, the distribution of thrust, and the values of the constants in the aerodynamical equations of the propeller are discussed.
No rational column formula has yet been developed which gives results which are sufficiently precise for the design of airplane members, and consequently it is necessary to fall back upon experimental testing. In order to derive the maximum benefit from experiments, however, it is necessary that the experiments be guided by theory. It is the object here to modify existing formulae that may be obtained with a minimum number of tests. A discussion is given that is limited to the case of a simple column supported at both ends and subjected to uniformly distributed loads perpendicular to its axis and to end loads either axially or eccentrically applied. Discussed here are forces in the bracing of latticed columns, the application of theory to practical columns, loads in lattice members, and the strength of individual lattices.
This report contains the derivation of a series of relations between temperature, pressure, density, and altitude in a standard atmosphere which assumes a uniform decrease of temperature with altitude.
The study of the motion of perfect fluids is of paramount importance for the understanding of the chief phenomena occurring in the air surrounding an aircraft, and for the numerical determination of their effects. The author recently successfully employed some simple methods for the investigation of the flow of a perfect fluid that have never been mentioned in connection with aeronautical problems. These methods appeal particularly to the engineer who is untrained in performing laborious mathematical computations, as they do away with these and allow one to obtain many interesting results by the mere application of some general and well-known principles of mechanics. Discussed here are the kinetic energy of moving fluids, the momentum of a body in a perfect fluid, two dimensional flow, three dimensional flow, and the distribution of the transverse forces of very elongated surfaces of revolution.
The laws of curvilinear motion are established and the transverse forces on elongated airship hulls along a curved path are investigated.
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Emphasized here is the desirability of using recording instruments in the investigation of the characteristics of airplanes with particular reference to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) control force recorder. Given here are photographs, records, and a description of the instrument developed by NACA for investigations on different types of aircraft. Described here is an instrument for recording control forces. At present, this control force recorder registers only the forces exerted on the stick. However, attachments are being designed to enable the forces on the rudder bar also to be recorded. The instrument in its final form will consist of three parts, namely, the recorder, the controller for the stick, and the controller for the rudder. The first two are in use now. The theory of operation is simple. In the controller, which is slipped over and fastened to the stick, are small electrical resistances which vary with the force applied to the handle. The recording apparatus then consists of suitable variable resistances properly connected to galvanometers whose deflections are proportional to the forces applied to the stick.
For a first approximation the air flow around the airship hull is assumed to obey the laws of perfect (i.e. free from viscosity) incompressible fluid. The flow is further assumed to be free from vortices (or rotational motion of the fluid). These assumptions lead to very great simplifications of the formulae used but necessarily imply an imperfect picture of the actual conditions. The value of the results depends therefore upon the magnitude of the forces produced by the disturbances in the flow caused by viscosity with the consequent production of vortices in the fluid. If these are small in comparison with the forces due to the assumed irrotational perfect fluid flow the results will give a good picture of the actual conditions of an airship in flight.
Here, it is shown that the construction of an airplane model can and should be simplified in order to obtain the most reliable test data. General requirements for model construction are given, keeping in mind that the general purpose of wind tunnel tests on a model airplane is to obtain the aerodynamic characteristics, the static balance, and the efficiency of controls for the particular combination of wings, tail surfaces, fuselage, and landing gear employed in the design. These parts must be exact scale reproductions. Any appreciable variation from scale reproduction must be in the remaining parts of the model, i.e., struts, wires, fittings, control horns, radiators, engines, and the various attachments found exposed to the wind in special airplanes. Interplane bracing is discussed in some detail.
Dihedral and sweep back can properly be compared only to the extent to which their action is similar in a side slip. In general the rolling moments due to side slip are about three to six times greater for a given dihedral angle than for an equal angle of sweep back.
The reduction of drag of an airfoil when the air stream is oscillating is called the Katzmayr effect. The purpose here is to offer a simple explanation of the cause of the Katzmayr effect.
The following contains information on the air forces on a wing produced by it's pitching at a finite rate of angular velocity. The condition of smooth flow at the region of the trailing edge is maintained. The wing then experiences the same lift as if moving with the momentary velocity of the rear edge.
Recent data have shown that certain forms or types of ailerons that are in extensive use are in reality quite inefficient and entirely unsuited for the high speeds now realized. The same data indicate that two forms (both shown here) are efficient and satisfactory in every way. The most important characteristics of ailerons are effectiveness under all flight conditions, small moments about the hinge, high efficiency (small yawing moment opposing turn), and simplicity in construction. Information required for the design of ailerons is given for chord, span, area, and plan form.
This report provides a list of landing locations for seaplanes on the Atlantic coast of the United States and the facilities and services located there.
A method of calculating the horizontal tail area for an airplane equipped with flaps is presented.. The general problem of tail design, the effects of flaps on the factors involved, and the manner in which the flaps change the requirements upon which the minimum horizontal tail area is based are discussed.