Analyzing the Impact of Winglets on Twin-Engine Turboprop Transport Aircraft Wing using XFLR5

Abstract

Ongoing advancements in aircraft wing design aims to enhance wing efficiency, particularly by optimizing wing shape and minimizing induced drag through the incorporation of Winglets. This study investigates the impact of adding winglets to the wings of a Twin-engine Turboprop transport aircraft (ATR 72). The primary function of winglets is to improve wing’s aerodynamic efficiency, resulting in reduced induced drag and an enhanced ratio between lift and drag coefficients. Using XFLR5 software, the ATR 72 aircraft wing was modeled with varying cant angles for the winglets (0°, 30°, 60°, and 90°). Test results reveal that the wing modification with winglets is most effective at a cant angle of 90°, achieving the lowest induced drag at wingtips. The optimal D_i value is observed at an angle of attack of 90^o, reaching 24.728.