A COMPARISON OF THREE THEORETICAL METHODS OF CALCULATING SPAN LOAD DISTRIBUTION ON SWEPT WINGS

摘要

Three methods for calculating span load distribution, those developed by Y. M. Falkner, Wm. Mutterperl, and J. Weissinger, have been applied to five swept wings. The angles of sweep ranged from -45° to +450. These methods were examined to establish their relative accuracy and ease of application. Experimentally determined loadings were used as a basis for judging accuracy. For the convenience of the readers the computing forms and all information requisite to their application are included in appendixes.nFrom the analysis it was found that the Weissingor method would be best suited to an over—all study of the effects of plan form on the span loading and associated characteristics of wings. The method gave good, but not best, accuracy and involved by far the least computing effort. The Falkner method gave the best accuracy but at a considerable expense in computing effort and hence appeared to be most useful for a detailed study of a specific wing. The Mutterperl method offered no advantages in accuracy or facility over either of the other methods and hence is not recommended for use.