Design of Glider Wing Shape and Research on its Aerodynamic Characteristics

Abstract

The glider is a type of aircraft without a power device, which relies on airflow to obtain forward power and has important application value in environmental detection, rescue, and other scenarios. The wing shape of a glider is one of the biggest factors affecting its gliding performance. However, the quantitative mechanism by which specific airfoil parameters affect gliding performance is still unclear. This paper dives into the field of aerodynamics and analyzes which airfoil performs the best in realistic situations. Unlike traditional methods in which the only way to analyze such a foil is through rigorous testing in a wind tube, this paper uses two ways, both through simulation and idealized calculation to determine the best airfoil. The results demonstrate that the lift-to-drag ratio characteristics of NACA 4424 and NACA 4415 are better than those of NACA 64A210 and NACA 2412, but there is a certain difference between the simulation results and theoretical results, which may be related to the accumulated errors in the simulation and data processing processes. This study helps to enhance the understanding of the impact of different airfoil parameters on their aerodynamic performance, providing a reference for the optimization design of airfoils.