AERODYNAMIC FORCES AND

TYPES OF DRAG

PRESENTED BY-

• SWARUPA TALUKDER(220301230001)

• SAYANTAN MANNA(220301230002)

• ARAJIT PANDA(220301230005)

• SANGEETA PANDA(220301230011)

• DIMPAL NAYAK(220301230027)

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CONTENTS:
o Introduction
o Aerofoil
o Parts of the aerofoil
o Types of aerodynamic forces on aircraft: • Lift
• Weight
• Thrust
• Drag
o Types of Drag: • Parasite Drag
• Lift Induced Drag
• Wave Drag
o Graph between Airspeed and Drag
o Methods to reduce Drag
o Conclusion

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 Introduction:
• Aerodynamics is the study of how air moves around objects.

• An aerodynamic force is a force exerted on a body by the air (or other gas) in which the body is immersed, and is due to

the relative motion between the body and the gas.

• Any surface such as wing that provide aerodynamic force when it interact with a moving stream of air.

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 Airfoil
• An airfoil or aerofoil is a streamlined body that is capable

of generating significantly more lift than drag. Wings, sails

and propeller blades are examples of airfoils.

• Airfoils have a specific shape that is crucial for generating

lift.

• Curved upper surface (camber) contributes to lift creation.

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 Parts of the Airfoil
 Leading Edge: The front edge of an aerofoil, facing the
oncoming air.
 Trailing Edge: The rear edge of an aerofoil, where airflow
separates.
 Chord: The straight line between the leading and trailing edges.
 Chord Line: Imaginary line connecting the leading and trailing
edges.
 Camber: The curvature of the aerofoil's upper surface.
 Mean Camber Line: The average curve along the aerofoil's
upper and lower surfaces.
 Angle of Attack: The angle between the chord line and
oncoming air.
 Relative Wind: The direction of airflow relative to the aerofoil.
 Thickness: The distance between the upper and lower surfaces
of an aerofoil.
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 Types of aerodynamic forces on aircraft

 Lift: Upward force from wing shape, opposes gravity.

 Weight: Downward force due to gravity.

 Thrust: Forward force from engines or propellers.

 Drag: Air resistance opposing forward motion.

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 Lift
• Lift is the force that holds an airplane in the air.

• The wings create most of the lift used by airplanes.

• Lift is primarily generated by the specific design and shape of the

aircraft's wings, known as airfoils.

• The curved upper surface of the wing accelerates airflow, resulting in

lower pressure, creating lift according to Bernoulli's principle.

• Lift is influenced by the angle between the wing and the oncoming air,

known as the angle of attack.

• Maintaining smooth and attached airflow over the wings is crucial for

effective lift production.

• Lift is directly proportional to the square of the aircraft's airspeed.

• The ratio of aircraft weight to wing area affects the efficiency of lift

production. 7
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 Weight

• Weight is defined as the downward force of gravity. –

Force is always directed toward the centre of the

earth.

• Weight is distributed throughout the plane.

• The magnitude of the weight depends on the mass of

the plane plus the fuel, the people and baggage.

• A pilot must overcome weight by lift to get the plane

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 Thrust
• Thrust is generated by aircraft engines that expel high-speed exhaust
gases in a rearward direction.
• Thrust is a reaction force to the expulsion of exhaust gases, following
Newton's third law of motion.
• Different aircraft may use propellers or jet engines to produce thrust,
each with its unique mechanism.
The efficiency of thrust is evaluated in relation to the aircraft's weight,
impacting its acceleration and climb performance.
• Pilots can control thrust levels, adjusting them for different phases of
flight, such as takeoff, climb, cruise, and descent.
• Thrust requirements vary with changes in airspeed and altitude, affecting
overall aircraft performance.
• Aircraft design aims to optimize aerodynamics to reduce drag and
enhance thrust efficiency.
Some aircraft can deploy reverse thrust during landing, redirecting
engine thrust forward to aid in deceleration on the runway. 9
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 Drag

• Drag is a resistance force created by the plane’s

movement through the air. – The force of the air faces

against the plane, therefore slowing the plane down.

• The magnitude of drag depends up on the shape, air

quality and velocity.

• Drag increases as the air speed increases. – A pilot

must overcome drag with thrust to gain speed.

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 Types of drag
There are various types of drag depending up on their sources, They are:

 Parasite Drag

 Form Drag or Pressure Drag

 Skin friction Drag

 Profile Drag

 Interference Drag

 Lift induced Drag

 Wave Drag
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 Parasite Drag:

o Parasite drag is a drag produced due to the

motion of an object through a fluid.

o Parasite drag occurs due to air molecules.

o Parasite drag is classified as form drag or

pressure drag, skin friction drag and interference

drag.
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Form Drag or Pressure Drag:

o Form drag is produced due to the shape of the

object moving through the fluid.

o It depends on the cross section of an object.

o An object with a larger cross section and blunt

shape will have a larger form drag whereas an

object with a smaller cross section area and a

sharper shape will have lesser form drag.

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Skin Friction Drag:
o Skin friction drag is a drag produced due to friction between an

object (aircraft) and fluid (atmospheric air).

o The rough surface will have high skin friction drag and conversely a

smooth surface will have less skin friction drag

Interference Drag:
o Interference drag is produced due to the interference of two or more

airflows having different speeds.

o And this drag is produced by the interference of different aircraft

parts, that is, due to a mixture of airflow around wing and the

airflow around the fuselage.

Profile Drag: Profile drag is a sum of the form drag and skin friction drag.
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 Lift induced Drag:

o The direction of lift is perpendicular to the

oncoming airflow towards the aircraft.

o Lift induced drag, as the name suggests, is a drag

produced due to lift.

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 Wave Drag:
o Wave drag is generally produced at transonic speed

( speed almost equals to speed of sound) and

Supersonic speed (speed greater than speed of sound).

o Due to high speed of airflow, shock waves are

produced. Shockwaves are nothing but the disturbance

in the air.

o This disturbance increases drag of aircraft known as

wave drag.
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 The graph shows the variation of the drag…..

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Methods to reduce drag:
 Pressure drag can be reduced using smaller cross section area for making wings and by using aerodynamic

shape for an aerofoil.

 Making the aircraft skin smooth will reduce skin friction.

 Using winglet or shark- lets at wing tips.

 Increasing the Aspect ratio.

 Flush-Mounted Rivets.

 Gap seals.

 Fairings.

 Wheels Pants.

 Feathering Propellers.
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 CONCLUSION

“In conclusion, understanding aerodynamic forces and the types of drag is essential for anyone
involved in aviation or design. The intricate balance between lift, weight, thrust, and drag significantly
influences the performance and efficiency of aircraft. By grasping the principles behind these forces
and drag components, we can enhance aerodynamic design, improve fuel efficiency, and optimize
flight characteristics. Whether you are an engineer, pilot, or enthusiast, a deeper comprehension of
these concepts not only fosters innovation but also contributes to safer and more effective aviation
systems. As we continue to push the boundaries of flight, the knowledge gained from studying
aerodynamic forces and drag becomes increasingly pivotal in shaping the future of aeronautics.”

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