The purpose of this project was to investigate the effects that changing aircraft wing design variables had on the air velocity and density passing over the wing, as well as the effect which changing the design variables of the aircraft wing had on coefficients of lift and drag of the structure. Specifically, this experiment aimed to change the design variable known as the aspect ratio of an airfoil structure, and to determine the effects which the aspect ratio had on the aforementioned Fluid Mechanics variables. Not only does this project serve to provide more knowledge in the field of aeronautics, but further enhances the fundamental knowledge of Fluid Mechanics principles. Additionally, by identifying the relationship between the aspect ratio of an aircraft wing and the air density, air velocity, and coefficients of lift and drag on the foil, the proper real-world applications of certain aspect ratio wings could be identified. This experiment was possible through the computer-aided-designing (CAD), additive manufacturing, and testing of two airfoils with different aspect ratios. Through designing and testing two airfoils with different aspect ratios, the relationship between the aspect ratio of an airfoil and the pertinent Fluid Mechanics variables could be established. With the variables properly defined, the proper applications for each aspect ratio could be determined.

Personal Project Interest

Both of us have been fascinated by the world of aerospace engineering our entire lives, and the complexity which aircraft and their related systems possess have always intrigued us. To be able to blend our intrigue in aeronautics and the principle concepts we have learned in Fluid Mechanics greatly interested the both of us. Below details our individual personal interests in the project:

Matthew:

Since a young age, I have had an inquiry on the physical fundamentals which go into designing aircrafts. Having come from a family with multiple Air Force Veterans, I have had multiple opportunities to actually go to places such as Selfridge Air National Guard Base and see physical aircrafts from a young age, which is what planted the seed of inquiry within myself. When my family members would take me on trips to see aircraft, I was always intrigued by the complexity of design which went into these aircrafts. Furthermore, I have had multiple automotive consulting Co-Op terms which focused in the Electric Vehicle realm, in which we oftentimes worked with OEM’s to find sustainable manufacturing solutions for their vehicle programs. The job experience in the world of environmental sustainability has allowed me to understand engineers' duty to continue to innovate in a direction which will make our world a more sustainable place. The combination of my inquiry for aerospace engineering and my work experience to work towards a sustainable future is ultimately where the intersection between my interests and this project exists.

Adam:

Throughout my life, I have always been fascinated by complex machines, and understanding how they work. The idea that someone not only envisioned, but built a working engine for the first time is almost incomprehensible for me. With aircraft especially, I have a great admiration for those who were the first to pave the path. Not only did these trailblazers use the laws of physics and fluid mechanics to create a hypothetical mechanism that could fly, but they decided to put their faith in their calculations and test whether or not their prototypes would be able to fly with them on board! Aircraft design has come a long way since then, as well as the methods in which they are manufactured. Through this project, I am eager to further study and optimize aero-efficiency, in order to better understand how fluid mechanics can impact environmental sustainability in real-world applications.

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Click here to view the Presentation.

Click here to view Matthew's personal essay.

Click here to view Adam's personal essay.