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The Effect of Surface Irregularities on Wing Drag. IV - Manufacturing IrregularitiesTests were made in the NACA 8-foot high speed wind tunnel of a metal-covered, riveted, 'service' wing of average workmanship to determine the aerodynamic effects of the manufacturing irregularities incident to shop fabrication. The wing was of 5-foot chord and of NACA 23012 section and was tested in the low-lift range at speeds from 90 to 450 miles per hour corresponding to Reynolds numbers from 4,000,000 to 18,000,000. At a cruising condition the drag of the service wing was 46% higher than the drag of a smooth airfoil, whereas the drag of an accurately constructed airfoil having the same arrangement of 3/32-inch brazier-head rivets and lap joints showed a 29% increase. The difference, or 17% of the smooth-wing drag, is apparently the drag caused by the manufacturing irregularities: sheet waviness, departures from true profile, and imperfect laps. the service wing, for one condition at least, showed a drag increase due to compressibility at a lower air speed than did the more accurate airfoil.
Document ID
20090015310
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other
Authors
Robinson, Russell G. (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Langley Aeronautical Lab. Langley Field, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1938
Subject Category
Aerodynamics
Report/Patent Number
NACA-SR-79
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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