Drag count
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A drag count is dimensionless unit used by aerospace engineers where 1 drag count a of 0.0001.[1][2]
Definition
A drag count is defined as:
where:
- is the drag force, which is by definition the force component in the direction of the flow velocity,[3]
- is the mass density of the fluid,[4]
- is the speed of the object relative to the fluid and
- is the reference area.
The drag coefficient is used to compare the solutions of different geometries by means of a dimenionless number. A drag count is used as a more user-friendly measurement as the coefficient of drag is usually less than 1. A drag count of 200 to 400 is typical for an airplane at cruise.[5] A reduction of one drag count on a subsonic civil transport airplane means about 200 lbs more in payload.[6]
References
- ^ T. Yechout. Introduction to Aircraft Flight Mechanics: Performance, static stability, dynamic stability, and classical feedback control. AIAA Education Series. 2003. http://books.google.ca/books?id=a_c2V0zAFwcC&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=drag+count&source=bl&ots=ZE7-7RqzBf&sig=_zGTQQWXAuPaYLlgd-tReHT1pa4&hl=en#v=onepage&q=drag%20count&f=false
- ^ Basha, W. A. and Ghaly, W. S., “Drag Prediction in Transitional Flow over Airfoils,” Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 44, 2007,p. 824–32.
- ^ See lift force and vortex induced vibration for a possible force components transverse to the flow direction.
- ^ Note that for the Earth's atmosphere, the air density can be found using the barometric formula. Air is 1.293 kg/m3 at 0 °C and 1 atmosphere
- ^ "Ask Us - Drag Coefficient & Lifting Line Theory". Aerospaceweb.org. 2004-07-11. http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/aerodynamics/q0184.shtml. Retrieved 2010-12-07
- ^ Van Dam, C. P., Aircraft Design and the Importance of Drag Prediction, VKI Lecture Series 2003-2:CFD-Based Aircraft Drag. Prediction and Reduction, National Inst. of Aerospace, Hampton, VA,Nov. 2003.
See also