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Incorrect Lift Theory

The document discusses and debunks the "equal transit time" or "longer path" theory of how lift is generated by airfoils. It explains that while some parts of the theory are correct, the assumption that air molecules meet at the trailing edge is flawed. Experiments using a simulator show that air flows faster over the top of airfoils than predicted by the theory, and molecules near each other at the leading edge do not end up together at the trailing edge. The document concludes that the theory attempts to provide velocity based on a non-physical assumption, and thus does not accurately predict the actual lift generated.

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احمد عبد
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77 views1 page

Incorrect Lift Theory

The document discusses and debunks the "equal transit time" or "longer path" theory of how lift is generated by airfoils. It explains that while some parts of the theory are correct, the assumption that air molecules meet at the trailing edge is flawed. Experiments using a simulator show that air flows faster over the top of airfoils than predicted by the theory, and molecules near each other at the leading edge do not end up together at the trailing edge. The document concludes that the theory attempts to provide velocity based on a non-physical assumption, and thus does not accurately predict the actual lift generated.

Uploaded by

احمد عبد
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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There are many theories of how lift is generated.

Unfortunately, many of the theories found in


encyclopedias, on web sites, and even in some textbooks are incorrect, causing unnecessary
confusion for students.
The theory described on this slide is one of the most widely circulated, incorrect explanations.
The theory can be labeled the "Longer Path" theory, or the "Equal Transit Time" theory. The
theory states that airfoils are shaped with the upper surface longer than the bottom. The air
molecules (the little colored balls on the figure) have farther to travel over the top of the airfoil
than along the bottom in order to meet up at the trailing edge. Therefore, the molecules going
over the top of the wing must travel faster than the molecules moving under the wing. Because
the upper flow is faster, then, from Bernoulli's equation, the pressure is lower. The difference in
pressure across the airfoil produces the lift.
Before considering what is wrong with this theory, let's investigate the actual flow around an
airfoil by doing a couple of experiments using a Java simulator which is solving the correct
flow equations.
Let's use the information we've just learned to evaluate the various parts of the "Equal Transit"
Theory.
{Lifting airfoils are designed to have the upper surface longer than the bottom.} This is not
always correct. The symmetric airfoil in our experiment generates plenty of lift and its
upper surface is the same length as the lower surface. Think of a paper airplane. Its airfoil is
a flat plate --> top and bottom exactly the same length and shape and yet they fly just fine.
This part of the theory probably got started because early airfoils were curved and shaped
with a longer distance along the top. Such airfoils do produce a lot of lift and flow turning,
but it is the turning that's important, not the distance. There are modern, low-drag airfoils
which produce lift on which the bottom surface is actually longer than the top. This theory
also does not explain how airplanes can fly upside-down (the longer path would then be on
the bottom!) which happens often at air shows and in air-to-air combat.
{Air molecules travel faster over the top to meet molecules moving underneath at the
trailing edge.} Experiment #1 shows us that the flow over the top of a lifting airfoil does
travel faster than the flow beneath the airfoil. But the flow is much faster than the speed
required to have the molecules meet up at the trailing edge. Two molecules near each other
at the leading edge will not end up next to each other at the trailing edge as shown in
Experiment #2. This part of the theory attempts to provide us with a value for the velocity
over the top of the airfoil based on a non-physical assumption (the molecules meet at the aft
end). We can calculate a velocity based on this assumption, and use Bernoulli's equation to
compute the pressure, and perform the pressure-area calculation and the answer we get does
not agree with the lift that we measure for a given airfoil. The lift predicted by the "Equal
Transit" theory is much less than the observed lift, because the velocity is too low. The
actual velocity over the top of an airfoil is much faster than that predicted by the "Longer
Path" theory and particles moving over the top arrive at the trailing edge before particles
moving under the airfoil.
{The upper flow is faster and from Bernoulli's equation the pressure is lower. The
difference in pressure across the airfoil produces the lift.} As we have seen in Experiment
#1, this part of the theory is correct. In fact, this theory is very appealing because many
parts of the theory are correct. In our discussions on pressure-area integration to determine
the force on a body immersed in a fluid, we mentioned that if we know the velocity, we can
obtain the pressure and determine the force. The problem with the "Equal Transit" theory is
that it attempts to provide us with the velocity based on a non-physical assumption as
discussed above.
You can further investigate all the factors affecting lift by using the FoilSim II Java Applet. You
can also download your own copy of FoilSim to play with for free.

Guided Tours
Theories of Lift:

Back to top
Go to...
Beginner's Guide Home Page

byTom Benson
Please send suggestions/corrections to: benson@grc.nasa.gov

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