Weissinger's model of the nonlinear lifting-line method for aircraft design

TLDR

The paper presents a method enabling nonlinear aerodynamic calculations within the time constraints of conceptual design. The method, based on Weissinger’s lifting‑line model, incorporates the Biot‑Savart law, Kutta‑Joukowski theorem, and airfoil lift data, and is designed for rapid, accurate, geometry‑input‑friendly analysis that can be coupled to other codes for multidisciplinary optimization. Results for swept and unswept wings show very favorable agreement with experiment.

Abstract

A method is presented that allows for the calculation of nonlinear aerodynamics within the time constraints of the conceptual design phase. This method was developed with characteristics of a design oriented analysis technique: adequate accuracy, computational efficiency, accuracy and speed tradeoff and minimal time for geometric input and modification. In addition, the code can be readily coupled to other analysis codes, e.g. with a structural analysis code, which is important for the use in multidisciplinary design optimization. The method is based on Weissinger's lifting-line model. In addition, it incorporates the Biot-Savart law, Kutta-Joukowski theorem, and airfoil lift data. Results of swept and unswept wings show very favorable agreement with experiment.