Drag reduction in a wing model using a bird feather like winglet

Abstract

This work describes the aerodynamic characteristic for aircraft wing with and without bird feather like winglet. The aerofoil used to construct the whole structure is NACA. Rectangular wing and this aerofoil have been used to compare the result with previous research using winglet. The model of the rectangular wing with bird feather like winglet has been fabricated using polystyrene before design using CATIA P3 V5R13 software and finally fabricated in wood. The experimental analysis for the aerodynamic characteristic for rectangular wing without winglet, wing with horizontal winglet and wing with 60 degree inclination winglet for Reynolds number 1.66×105, 2.08×105 and 2.50×105 have been carried out in open loop low speed wind tunnel at the Aerodynamics laboratory in Universiti Putra Malaysia. The experimental result shows 25-30 % reduction in drag coefficient and 10-20 % increase in lift coefficient by using bird feather like winglet for angle of attack of 8 degree. © 2011 Jordan Journal of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.