The effect of wing sweep on the slope of the lift curve, often referred to as the “lift curve slope,” is a critical consideration in aircraft design. The lift curve slope represents how lift changes with changes in angle of attack and is a key factor in determining an aircraft’s aerodynamic performance.
Formula: The formula for the lift curve slope, denoted as “a” (alpha), can be expressed as follows:
- “a” (alpha) is the lift curve slope (in radians per radian).
- “AR” is the aspect ratio of the wing, which is the ratio of the wingspan to the mean chord length.