It could be related to fluid mechanics. To maintain the landing time, should i give more attention to lift or drag?
Any suggestion and opinion are welcomed. Thank you
Dear Lim
The question you asked is one of the most important notes for designing.
I recommend you to study more about MDO(Multi Disciplinary Design Optimization) .
Above matter can help you improve your ideas about your question.
for further information please do not hesitate to contact me. Following I have sent you my Email address.
Best wishes
Mohammadali Monfared , [email protected]
Dear Lim
The distance travelled by a glider is a function of the glider lift-to-drag ratio and the height from which the glider will begin its flight, for both parameters the higher the better. It is not a function of its weight.
High lift-to-drag ratio is achieved with low drag. Subsonic drag is made of pressure drag, friction drag and drag due to lift. There is not a lot that can be done to reduce pressure drag. In any case, modern airfoils exhibit very low pressure drag. Low friction drag is a matter of maintening laminar flow over the wings, something quite possible with gliders. Drag due to lift is reduced with as much as structurally possible high aspect ratio wings.
Best wishes
N. Kehayas
Dear Lim,
while a high lift to drag ratio is a desired characteristic in a glider, note that in order to stay for long in air (and not to go as far as possible), you must flight at minimum required power, instead of at maximum lift to drag ratio.
The glider utilizes the potential energy and the gravitational pull to sustain the flight for a given initial velocity. For a fixed initial velocity and altitude, having high lift and low drag coefficients increase the range by reducing the rate of decent. One cannot do much on drag coefficient and it can be slightly reduced by making the flow laminar over the surfaces as turbulent flow has higher skin friction. However, the lift coefficient can be increased by increasing the aspect ratio and wing platform area (flaps, slats and leading edge extension).
Increase the lift over drag ratio and find the optimal speed for that configuration to operate to reach the maximum lift over drag (Best range) or best endurance based on the reliable aerodynamics and performance analysis tool
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