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Gliders and the Science Behind Them

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Gliders and the Science Behind Them Gliders and the science behind them Regional Math/Science Center, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD 21532 Introduction Method of Testing Discussion and Aircraft made specifically for traveling using Testing took place in two different settings: indoors and Conclusion unpowered flight are called gliders; they do not outdoors. In each of these locations, I first threw a 3D generate thrust, but instead use the initial printed fuselage as a projectile consistently 10 times, to The variables to take into consideration include velocity that is given to them to glide. create a data set that would be used as the control. how the glider was thrown, wind, and the The objective this summer was to acquire Then I threw my glider 10 times at that same initial temperature and humidity outside. This makes it knowledge of aerodynamics and the forces that velocity. Distance traveled was measured while the hard to determine exactly what caused the glider to act upon aircraft, then apply that information to flight was video recorded so qualitative characteristics perform in that manner. After analyzing the data design a 3D printed glider that could travel could be closely observed later. A t-test was used to and characteristics of each flight, it appears that the further than a projectile while remaining stable in compare the distance travelled by the projectile and glider was generating too much lift; that along with all three axes of rotation. glider in the two environments. the fact that it is very lightweight, with slightly more weight in the back, might be why it almost always quickly turned upwards resulting in the Design shorter distance traveled outdoors. If allotted more Fuselage: long and slender design that would Results time or a chance to modify my glider I would add allow air to flow around it, which reduces The average distance of the projectile and glider were more weight near the front, by making the fuselage form drag (Fig. 1) the same during the indoor trials. For the outdoor trials, slightly heavier or simply adding mass to the front. Wings: tapered planform reduces drag due to its the t-test determined that the average distance of the minimal surface area near the wing tips (fig. 2) projectile was greater than that of the glider. For the along with an airfoil shape that is able to generate majority of the indoor trials the glider pitched upwards, lift (fig. 3) often enough to completely flip over. Based on the References Tailplane: provides horizontal stabilization; qualitative and quantitative data recorded, my glider relatively flat so it does not produce much lift or was deemed unsuccessful. Aerodynamics of Flight. (2013) In Glider Flying drag (Fig. 3) Handbook (pp. 3.1-3.19) Oklahoma City, OK: United States Department of Figure 1. side view of Figure 3. front Transportation fuselage elevation Indoor Trials Outdoor Trials 6 6 4.71 Figure 2. Ariel 3.54 3.54 3.91 view of glider Meters 4 4 Acknowledgements in Physics Dept. RMSC Staff 2 2 Duane Miller Brady Barnhart Aili Wade Dylan Boeckmann Distance 0 0 Bradley Davidson Projectile Glider Projectile Glider Rita Hegeman Glider Construction Process Regional Math/Science Center, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD 21532 Introduction Testing Discussion Gliders are engineless aircraft that glide First, we threw a projectile indoors 15 times, Even though the p-values in comparison to through the air. They are typically used for attempting to throw with the same velocity on the alpha value showed a significant recreation. The goal of this project was to every throw. The average distance of the projectile difference, we do not think that the glider truly design and 3-D print a working glider that was used as the control. Then, we threw the glider glided. Most of the time the glider lost stability, would go farther than a projectile with no indoors 15 times, attempting to throw with the and outdoors, it didn’t travel as far as the aerodynamic design, remain stable about all same velocity as the projectile. Each of the projectile. It may have gotten some lift due to 3 axes of rotation, and maintain a linear distances were recorded. Finally, we compared the the airfoils, but the center of lift was most flight path. We also took this as a chance to averages of the two sets of data (glider and likely too far forward, which would cause the study the physics and aerodynamics of projectile) with a t-test for both indoors and flipping. We assume that the causes for error flight. outdoors. were inconsistency with launch, the material used for the gliders, and/or time constraints. Design Fuselage – A nose that tapers upwards Results Conclusion (figure 1-a) to encourage air currents to Indoors: On average, the glider went 0.387 follow the fuselage with ease, reducing air meters farther than the projectile. Our glider did not appear to glide, despite the compression that causes form drag. A Outdoors: On average, the projectile went 0.94 t-test concluding a significant difference vertical fin (figure 1-b) to divert air currents meters farther than the glider. between the averages. We did not meet the and funnel them to the back. Observations: Many trials ended in the glider other requirements, as the glider did not Wings – At a dihedral of 6.23° (angling of tipping upwards and then stalling, or simply remain stable upon all three axes of rotation. the wings; figure 2-c) and swept forward spinning out of control immediately after launch. There was ample room for human error, such (figure 2-d) for stability. Tapered outwards as throwing with varying velocities, which may (figure 2-e) to reduce drag. Airfoil (shape of P-Values: have influenced our results. the wings) to produce lift. Indoors – 0.0015 Tailplane – Airfoil (shape of tailplane; figure Outdoors – 0.00025 References 3) to produce some lift and improve stability. Alpha Value – .05 Aerodynamics of flight. (2013) In Glider Flying Handbook (b) Indoor trials Outdoor trials (pp 3.1-3.19) Oklahoma City, OK: United States (a) 4 8 Department of Transportation. Glider. (2016). Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, (e) 3 6 1p. 1. (d) Figure 1: Fuselage Figure 2: Wing (c) 2 4 3.18 3.57 6.45 Figure 3: Tail Figure 4: Glider Assembly 5.51 Acknowledgements Distance (m) 1 Distance (m) 2 Thank you to the following: 0 0 Aili Wade, Angie Furgeson, Brad Davidson, Brady Projectile Glider Projectile Glider Barnhart, Duane Miller, Dylan Boeckmann, Rita Hegeman, and the Frostburg State University Physics Department Designing and 3D printing gliders Regional Math/Science Center, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD 21532 Introduction Seeing aircraft, such as commercial airplanes or jets, is common. Transportation by air has advanced greatly since the 1920’s2. A glider is one example of this advancement. Gliders do not rely on an engine but on their ability to balance the forces acted upon them to continue in flight. Figure 3 Small scale gliders can be made with cheap, easy access Figure 1 materials, such as paper, and can be thrown by hand. Turbulators Gliders can be used to study the basic principals of flight. Our objective was to successfully design a glider. If a glider exceeds a projectile’s distance while thrown at the same initial velocity and maintains a balanced flight, then it is Figure 4 considered successful. Figure 2 Testing Discussion Design (Figure 4) To test our gliders, we first threw a previously determined failed Fuselage (Figure 1): design of a fuselage 15 times as a projectile to form the muscle The overlapping of the confidence intervals for outside The front had a rounded top to create a smooth memory required to reach a consistent initial velocity. We then trials indicate that there is not enough data to determine transition for air currents and to reduce drag. The repeated this process with the gliders. We recorded the distances any significant difference between the averages. Inside fuselage was tapered (narrowed towards the end) to reached for both. results show significant difference between averages. The reduce drag. Turbulators were indented into the side These trials were conducted in two environments: difference between inside and outside results signifies that of the fuselage to avoid added drag. • Inside of FSU Compton building other factors outside may have influenced the glider’s • Outside Compton Science Center flight. Thus, partial success is concluded because there is Wings (Figure 2): The average distances for both environments were compared with statistical significance between distances for inside trials The wings had an elliptical (rounded edged) and a 95% confidence intervals. but, flight characteristics do not show true patterns of a tapered (narrowing thickness) wing shape which glider and no significant difference was determined for reduced the impact of air resistance on the wing. The Results outside trials. Different variables may have influenced the wings were designed as an airfoil to generate lift. The The average distances for the glider exceeded the average distances for trials and should be further investigated, such as: wings were set to a dihedral of 15 degrees to help the the projectile as shown by Figure 5 and Figure 6. Confidence intervals, • Environment glider stay balanced and not roll. Turbulators were shown on the graphs, overlap for outside results, while they do not for • Wind indented on the top of the wing to avoid potentially inside results. Common flight patterns were veering to the left. The • Humidity added drag. glider also landed on the right wing, not staying in equilibrium. • How the glider is launched • Material constraints Outside Inside Tail (Figure 3): 6 4.5 • Weight distribution 5.5 4 • Improvements for testing method The tail was angled to offset the natural tendency to 5 3.5 4.5 • Number of trials nosedive in flight.
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