International Journal of Frontiers in Engineering Technology, 2025, 7(3); doi: 10.25236/IJFET.2025.070315.
Haoyang Yu
Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
This investigation examines the critical influence of spanwise position selection on computational accuracy and solution stability in Lifting Line Theory Fourier series representations for finite wing analysis. Lifting Line Theory serves as a fundamental aerodynamic tool for estimating essential performance parameters of the finite wing, including lift coefficient and induced drag, particularly valuable during preliminary wing design phases where computational efficiency takes precedence over detailed flow modeling. The result accuracy and convergent behavior of Lifting Line Theory solutions demonstrate pronounced sensitivity to the placement of spanwise evaluation points within the Fourier series framework. This study systematically evaluates multiple position distribution strategies, encompassing concentrated arrangements near the wing tip and wing root, as well as uniform distributions, to quantify their respective impacts on solution precision and convergence characteristics. The analysis employs tapered wing configurations with symmetric airfoil sections across taper ratios of 0, 0.5, and 1.0, with an aspect ratio of 10. Results demonstrate that specific position angle ranges yield optimal computational accuracy, with substantial error occurring when two varying angular positions both approach either minimal or maximal domain boundaries. The uniform angle distribution methodology ensures robust solution stability and accuracy, even when extending the analysis to high-order term representations exceeding 1000 terms. Alternative distribution schemes exhibit inferior convergence properties and limited stability regions. These findings provide practical guidance for optimal position selection in Lifting Line Theory implementations.
Lifting Line Theory, Aerodynamics, Fourier Series, Spanwise Position Optimization, Solution Convergence
Haoyang Yu. Impact of Position Choosing in the Calculation of Lifting Line Theory. International Journal of Frontiers in Engineering Technology (2025), Vol. 7, Issue 3: 111-125. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJFET.2025.070315.
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