On the numerical computation of the minimum-drag profile in laminar flow

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Abstract
An approximation to the profile of given area with smallest drag in laminar flow is obtained (for Reynolds numbers between 103 and 105). It was shown previously by Pironneau (1974) that the skin friction on such a profile has to satisfy certain optimality conditions; the method used is based on these results. It was found that the optimum profile is long and thin (thickness-to-chord ratio about 10%), the front end being shaped like a wedge of angle 90° and the rear end like a cusp. The drag is very close to the drag on a flat plate of equal length.

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