Enter the aspect ratio and Oswald efficiency number into the calculator to determine the span efficiency factor of an aircraft wing. This calculator helps in estimating the aerodynamic efficiency of a wing design.
Span Efficiency Factor Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the span efficiency factor:
e = frac{1}{1 + frac{1}{AR cdot e_0}}Variables:
- e is the span efficiency factor
- AR is the aspect ratio of the wing
- e_0 is the Oswald efficiency number
To calculate the span efficiency factor, divide one by the sum of one and the reciprocal of the product of the aspect ratio and the Oswald efficiency number.
What is a Span Efficiency Factor?
The span efficiency factor is a measure of the aerodynamic efficiency of an aircraft’s wing. It accounts for the increase in induced drag due to the wing’s three-dimensional shape and non-elliptical lift distribution. A higher span efficiency factor indicates a more aerodynamically efficient wing design, which is beneficial for reducing drag and improving aircraft performance.
How to Calculate Span Efficiency Factor?
The following steps outline how to calculate the span efficiency factor:
- First, determine the aspect ratio (AR) of the wing.
- Next, determine the Oswald efficiency number (e_0).
- Use the formula e = 1 / (1 + 1 / (AR * e_0)) to calculate the span efficiency factor (e).
- Finally, calculate the span efficiency factor (e).
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem:
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Aspect ratio (AR) = 7.5
Oswald efficiency number (e_0) = 0.85
