Aerospace Engineering > GATE 2015 > Wing Aerodynamics
Consider a wing of elliptic planform, with its aspect ratio AR→∞ Its lift-curve slope, dCI/dα=_______

Correct : 6.283

This question comes directly from Prandtl''s Lifting Line Theory, which is one of the most fundamental topics in finite wing aerodynamics. Let''s build up to the answer from first principles so the reasoning is completely clear.
For a finite wing with an elliptic planform, the lift-curve slope is given by:
dCL/dα = a0 / (1 + a0 / (π × AR))
Where a0 is the two-dimensional (2D) lift-curve slope of the airfoil section, and AR is the aspect ratio of the wing. For a thin airfoil, thin airfoil theory gives a0 = 2π per radian.
Now, the question asks what happens as AR → ∞. As the aspect ratio becomes infinitely large, the denominator of the formula approaches:
1 + 2π / (π × ∞) = 1 + 0 = 1
So the lift-curve slope becomes:
dCL/dα = 2π / 1 = 2π ≈ 6.283 per radian

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Related Topics

elliptic wing lift curve slope GATE aerospace 2015 Q31 dCL/dα AR infinity Prandtl lifting line theory 2pi lift slope thin airfoil aspect ratio infinity wing finite wing aerodynamics induced downwash GATE wing planform lift slope

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