gnuLAB is a basic
paraglider of 28 cells, moderate
aspect ratio of 4,1, and maximum glide ratio of 6.5:1. The studied size
is the
“M” of 70 to 90 kg of gross weight in flight.
Name:
gnuLAB
Area
25.75 m2
Total weight range
70-90 kg
Span
10.28 m
Aspect ratio
4.1
Cells number
28
Closed cells
4
Aifoil tickness
14%
Max glide estimation
6.5:1
Homologation
none
The planes for
its free study and construction are attached here:
- format
PDF gnuLAB-20070815.pdf PDF - format
CAD gnuLAB-20070815.zip CAD
(includes the full 3D model of the paraglider )
Because it is an
experimental
prototype not homologated and never to
have flown no model until now (15 of August 2007), I cannot
assure
nor guarantee nothing. I cannot either guarantee that the geometric
model is correct (the subroutine of flat development of the panels will
work correctly?). I believe that it will fly as planned, but surely
will
be necessary to correct experimentally some small of the trim and the
angle of incidence of the tips of the wing. The improvements introduced
on the first prototype will be incorporated to the following planes.
I have taken 6
months, working in free short whiles, until obtaining
the project. The used tools have been the program XFOIL for the study
of
the profiles, a program of CAD in 3D to draw the model, and several
subroutines of calculation and drawing written in language Fortran 77
and compiled with g77 in an operating
system Kanotix GNU/Linux. The process has
been the following one:
Election of the planform
Distribution of the profiles
Definition of the wing in frontal view
Variation of the torsion along the span (whasin)
Election of the profiles (XFOIL)
Calculation of the air intakes (XFOIL)
Reinforcements in leading edge
Model 3D of the wing (CAD)
Subroutine of flat development of the panels (Fortran)
Law of ovalization on the panels (CAD, but I will
incorporate it to Fortran)
Study of the longitudinal equilibrium of paraglider
(subroutines Fortran, spreadsheets, and analysis of other paragliders)
Calculation of suspension lines (subroutines in Fortran and
CAD)
Model 3D of whole paraglider (CAD)
Calculation and drawing of internal charge straps
(subroutine Fortran)
Delineation of planes (CAD)
License: The
planes are under license type GNU General Public Licence
2.0 employee in free software http://www.gnu.org
. With this type of
license, anyone is free to copy the code (=planes), to study it, to
modify it, and to distribute it, with the only condition for
maintaining the license GPL, for putting in public domain the
introduced modifications, and for naming the authors of each version.
Fig 1. Model 3D
Fig 2. Detail
model 3D. Very basic model, but with tecnology of
internal load straps (in grey).
Fig 3. Upper view
Fig 4. Lateral
view
The 32 planes in
format .png:
01.
Index and
general data
02.
Plant
03.
Front view
04-01.
Profiles
04-02
04-03
04-04
04-05
04-06
04-07
04-08
05-01.
Panels
05-02
05-03
05-04
05-05
05-06
05-07
05-08
05-09
05-10
05-11
05-12
05-13
05-14
05-15
05-16
05-17
06-01.
Mylars
reinforcements
in leading edge
06-02.
Internal
load straps
07.
Lines
08.
Model
3D
gnuLAB it is a simple
project…, but it is the
research laboratory
for other wings that are to come: speedLAB
(speed flying) and the hiLAB
(high aspect ratio)
Important
note, August 26
of 2007:
I have detected, already in
drawing-board stage, that the ends of the wing possibly are with little
angle of incidence. In order to correct it would be necessary
to
trim lines CU3 in 2 cm, and lines DU3 in 3 cm. If you want to construct
the wing, you can consult to me by email as they are the last
adjustments.