The Effect of Chordwise Flexibility on the Lift of a Rapidly Accelerated Airfoil

Abstract

SummaryThe effects of finite chordwise flexibility on the development of lift on a rapidly started airfoil are studied. This is a generalization of the so-called Wagner problem of unsteady aerodynamics. It is found that the lift varies with time in a non-monotonous fashion, including more than one extremum. The lift at large times is found to be lower, the more flexible the foil. Changes in the wake vortex sheet are also discussed.