RCU Forums - View Single Post - Understanding Chart CI readings in Profili
Old 02-28-2003 | 10:36 PM
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Daniel Nelson
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From: Lancaster, CA,
Default Cl/Cd alpha graphs

It's kinda hard to make out the words on the graphs, but the left one is the Cl vs alpha curve. It plots the coefficient of lift (Cl) at various angles of attack (alpha). More Cl, more lift, but also more drag. The top of the curve, where Cl starts decreasing, is called the stall angle of attack. I think you ran Profili in the inviscid mode, since there isn not a drag curve. There should be an option to run things in viscious mode, this will give you the Cd values; read them the same way Cl is read.

The Cm-alpha graph (coefficient of moment) is also read the same way, but Cm is a different beast entirely. There's another thread that goes into how to use Cm in more detail.

Hope this helps