In aerodynamics, interference drag is a component of parasitic drag which is caused by vortices. Whenever two surfaces meet at a sharp angle on an airplane, the airflow has a tendancy to form a vortex. Accelerating the air into this vortex causes drag on the plane, and the resulting low pressure area behind the plane also contributes. Thus, the primary method of reducing interference drag is eliminating sharp angles by adding fairings which smooth out any sharp angles on the aircraft. As with other components of parasitic drag, interference drag follows the drag equation and rises with the square of the velocity.
For a solid object moving through a fluid or gas, drag is the sum of all the aerodynamic or hydrodynamic forces in the direction of the external fluid flow.
Beyond these two kinds of drag there is a third kind of drag, called wave drag, that occurs when the solid object is moving through the fluid at or near the speed of sound in that fluid.
The overall drag of an object is characterized by a dimensionless number called the drag coefficient, and is calculated using the drag equation.
In aerodynamics, interferencedrag is a component of parasitic drag which is caused by vortices.
Thus, the primary method of reducing interferencedrag is eliminating sharp angles by adding fairings which smooth out any sharp angles on the aircraft.
As with other components of parasitic drag, interferencedrag follows the drag equation and rises with the square of the velocity.
Feeds |
Contact