Aerodynamic Properties of AR = 1 Wings with Various Cambers at a Low Reynolds Number

Abstract

The aerodynamic properties of rectangular AR = 1 wings with different cambered circular-arc airfoils were measured through wind tunnel tests at Re = 10000. The aerodynamic forces (lift and drag) and the pitching moment acting on the wing were measured for a wide range of angles of attack α (-90deg ≤ α ≤ 90deg). The AR = 1 wings, which exhibited a substantial maximum lift coefficient (C_{L max}) even for a thin flat plate, demonstrated a greater C_{L max} for cambered wings. Concurrently, a substantial maximum resultant force coefficient, C_{R max}, was determined to occur at approximately α = 40deg. The development of small unmanned aircraft capable of flying at very low Reynolds numbers has recently been undertaken for the purpose of Mars exploration. The objective of this study is to supply the aerodynamic data for AR = 1 wings that will be useful for low Reynolds number aircraft.