The future of flying: Explore more energy-efficient airplane wings
In recent years, there has been a substantial rise in the popularity of air travel, bringing with it a surge in the consumption of jet fuel, a nonrenewable resource responsible for 2.4% of global carbon emissions. As air travel continues to gain prevalence, the anticipation of a significant increase in carbon emissions and a subsequent surge in jet fuel costs looms large. Maintaining affordability in air travel while mitigating carbon emissions necessitates a focus on maximizing airfoil efficiency. This study investigates how airplane wing design affects the aerodynamic performance of aircraft, with a specific focus on the impact of wing angle of attack, wing length, and winglets. In this research, this study use Computational Fluid Dynamics software to simulate and analyze the aerodynamic forces acting upon an aircraft to deduce its drag and lift coefficients. Employing diverse fluid dynamics formulas, the research calculates the aerodynamic performance of various aircraft airfoil designs, aiming to identify the optimal design. The envisioned optimal configuration is likely to feature an elongated wing, a 20 angle of attack, and suitable winglets stalled, strategically incorporated to enhance overall efficiency in air travel.
Authors
- Albert K. Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9500-0449)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Applied and Computational Engineering
- Published
- 2024-09-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.54254/2755-2721/91/20240953
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Aircraft Design and Technologies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00