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Grooves reduce aircraft drag

Michael J. Walsh

Open publisher page 2 citations

Abstract

Aerodynamic drag can be reduced by many small longitudinal grooves machined in aircraft skin. Experiments show that grooves parallel to airflow reduce drag by 4 to 7 percent. Reduced drag translates into reduced engine power required to overcome drag and ultimately to lower fuel consumption.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Aerodynamic drag can be reduced by many small longitudinal grooves machined in aircraft skin. Experiments show that grooves parallel to airflow reduce drag by 4 to 7 percent. Reduced drag translates into reduced engine power required to overcome drag and ultimately to lower fuel consumption.

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OpenAlex reports 2 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

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Available abstract

Aerodynamic drag can be reduced by many small longitudinal grooves machined in aircraft skin. Experiments show that grooves parallel to airflow reduce drag by 4 to 7 percent. Reduced drag translates into reduced engine power required to overcome drag and ultimately to lower fuel consumption.

Key concepts: Drag, Zero-lift drag coefficient, Aerodynamic drag, Parasitic drag, Lift-induced drag, Drag divergence Mach number, Aerodynamics, Drag coefficient

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