The constants a0 to a4 are for a 20% thick airfoil. The expression T/0.
2 adjusts the constants
to the required thickness.
At the trailing edge (x=1) there is a finite thickness of 0.0021 chord width for a 20% airfoil. If
a closed trailing edge is required, the value of a4 can be adjusted.
The value of yt is a half thickness and needs to be applied both sides of the camber line.
Using the equations above, for a given value of x, it is possible to calculate the camber line position
Yc, the gradient of the camber line, and the thickness. The position of the upper and lower surfaces
can then be calculated perpendicular to the camber line.
The NACA four-digit wing sections define the profile by:
1. First digit describing maximum camber as a percentage of the chord.
2. Second digit describing the distance of maximum camber from the airfoil leading edge in
tenths of the chord.
3. Last two digits describing the maximum thickness of the airfoil as a percentage of the chord.
For example, the NACA 2412 airfoil has a maximum camber of 2% located 40% (0.4 chords) from the
leading edge with a maximum thickness of 12% of the chord.
For example, Name = NACA 24012 Airfoil, cl=0.30, T=12.0% P=20.0%, Chord = 100mm ,
Radius = 0mm , Thickness = 100%, Origin = 0%, Pitch = 0°
Moving on to the next series
The series emphasizes maximizing laminar flow with the hope of reducing the skin friction drag.
The number “6” denotes the series.
The second digit gives the location of the minimum pressure area in the tenths of the chord.
The subscript denotes the range of lift coefficient in which favorable pressure gradients exist
on both surfaces.
The digit after the hyphen gives the design lift coefficient in tenths.
Lat two digits describe the maximum thickness as a percentage of the chord.
The alphabet at the end gives the fraction of the chord over which laminar flow is
maintained. a=1, if no value is given.
For example, NACA641-212a airfoil where 6 denote the series located at a minimum
pressure area of 0.4c where low drag is maintained at lift coefficients 0.1 above and below
the design lift coefficient 0.2 with a maximum thickness of 12 % where a=1 which means
distribution is constant over an airfoil.
NACA 1-series
The main idea behind the 1-series is to design the shape of the airfoil derived mathematically from
the desired lift characteristics. The series is described by five digits in the following sequence:
The number ‘1’ represents the series.
The second digit gives the position of the minimum-pressure area in tenths of the
percentage of the chord.
The digit after the hyphen denotes the lift coefficient in tenths.
Last two digits describing the maximum thickness in percent of chord.
For example, NACA12-125 airfoil has a minimum pressure of 20% of the chord with a lift
coefficient of 0.1 and a maximum thickness of 25% of the chord.
NACA 7 digit series
It is an advancement in airfoil in order to maximize laminar flow achieved by separately identifying
the low-pressure zones on upper and lower surfaces respectively.
The number ‘7’ represents the series.
The second digit represents the distance of the minimum pressure area on the upper surface
in tenths of the percentage of the chord.
The third digit denotes the position of the minimum pressure area on the lower surface in
tenths of the percentage of the chord.
Alphabet refers to a standard profile from the earlier NACA series.
The fourth digit indicates the lift coefficient in tenths.
The last 2 digits give the maximum thickness as a percent of chord.
Consider, the NACA 727A215 has the area of minimum pressure of 20% of the chord back on
the upper surface and 70% of the chord back on the lower surface, uses the standard ‘A’
profile, has a lift coefficient of 0.2, and has a maximum thickness of 15% of the chord.
NACA 8 digit series
The 8 digit series or ‘Supercritical’ airfoils are designed for flight at supersonic speed and the goal is
to maximize laminar flow. Nomenclature of 8- digit series airfoil is the same as that of 7 digit airfoil
except it starts with 8 which denotes the series it belongs to.
For example, the NACA 837A215 has an area of minimum pressure of 30% of the chord back on the
upper surface and 70% of the chord back on the lower surface, uses the standard ‘A’ profile, has a lift
coefficient of 0.2, and has a maximum thickness of 15% of the chord.