Aerofoil oscillations at high mean incidences

Abstract

Summary.--The problem of the estimation of the aerodynamic forces acting on two-dimensional aerofoils oscillating at mean incidences below the stall is considered. A method of calculation is suggested which makes use of the steady motion characteristics of the aerofoil. At low frequencies, good agreement with the measured aerodynamic derivatives should be obtained as the method is such that it gives the correct values at zero frequency. A comparison between the estimated and measured values of the pitching-moment derivatives for a particular aerofoil is made, and this shows that the method suggested gives better agreement with experiment than the usual vortex-sheet theory. The method can be extended for the calculation of control-surface derivatives. To some extent, the influence of compressibility could also be taken into account.