Wing tip with optimum loading

摘要

A wing incorporating a wing tip with a curved leading edge and a curved trailing edge to minimize induced drag for a given wing form is disclosed. The curve of the leading and trailing edges of the wing tip may be described generally as parabolic, elliptic, or super elliptic. A finite tip segment may be included with a sweep angle between the end of the curved leading edge and the end of the curved trailing edge. The wing tip may also include a spanwise camber.

主权项

1. A curved wing tip connected to a wing of an aircraft, the wing having a wing leading edge and a wing trailing edge, the aircraft in a x′-y′-z′ reference system where x′ is a longitudinal axis of the aircraft, y′ is a horizontal axis of the aircraft, and z′ is a vertical axis of the aircraft orthogonal to x′ and y′, the curved wing tip in a x-y-z reference system where x is parallel to x′, y is tangent to a surface of the wing, and z is orthogonal to x and y, the curved wing tip comprising:
a leading edge curved to maintain attached air flow and defining a first parabolic line from a leading start point to a leading end point, the first parabolic line approaching a freestream direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft at the leading end point; a trailing edge curved to maintain elliptic loading over the wing tip defining a second parabolic line from a trailing start point to a trailing end point, the second parabolic line approaching the freestream direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft at the trailing end point; and an end segment connecting the leading end point and the trailing end point swept back from the trailing end point to the leading end point at an end segment angle to maintain a trailing vortex position close to the trailing end point.