Abstract:

ESDU TM 168 contains analysis which provides the derivation and substantiation of equations given in ESDU 76003 for the geometric properties of straight-tapered and multi-panel wings.

Firstly, this Technical Memorandum presents derivations from first principles of the basic definitions for the geometric (or standard) mean chord and aerodynamic mean chord of the wing.

Next, for a straight-tapered trapezoidal wing, determinations of the length of the aerodynamic mean chord and of the longitudinal position of its leading edge are provided. Also, an expression for the longitudinal position of any fraction of the aerodynamic mean chord is determined.

Investigations then establish, for a straight-tapered trapezoidal wing, the relationships between the aerodynamic mean chord and the chord at the centroid location, with respect to their lengths and longitudinal locations.

Finally, equations are provided to determine the geometric properties of a multi-panel wing by consideration of the geometry of the individual panels. The calculation procedures are also tabulated as assistance to the user in the computation of multi-panel wing planform geometry and a worked example illustrates the use of these tables.