An Investigation of the Effects of the Sudden Extension of a Dive-Recovery Flap on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Symmetrical Airfoil in Two Dimensional Flow

Citation

Parker, James Frederick and Anderson, John Berwick and Tunnell, Richard McClellan and Vincent, Harry Lansing (1946) An Investigation of the Effects of the Sudden Extension of a Dive-Recovery Flap on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Symmetrical Airfoil in Two Dimensional Flow. Engineer's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/DJD3-KV06. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-12022008-102010

Abstract

This report presents the results of an investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of the NACA symmetrical laminar flow 65,1-012 airfoil. The model was tested with and without a dive recovery flap. The effects obtained by suddenly extending the flap are compared to those obtained with the flap set down in position. The tests cover a range of angle of attack from zero to plus three degrees while the Mach number was varied from 0.5 to 0.8.

The following conclusions were reached:
1. The lift curve for the airfoil with no flap is essentially a straight line.
2. A flap suddenly extended produces aerodynamic effects which are different from those produced by a flap which is set. Whenever model test results are to be used to produce design information to be incorporated in full scale aircraft, the dive recovery flaps on the model should be equivalent to those on the full scale airplane in regard to dimensional proportions and to the method and timing of operation, if a high degree of accuracy is desired.

This investigation was carried out by the authors at the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology during the school year 1945-46.

Thesis Files