A Computational Study of Lift and Drag Characteristics for NACA 4415 and NACA 2412 Aerofoils

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This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.

Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | 02 | Page :
    By

    Digambar Tukaram Kashid,

  • Sandeep Sitaram Wangikar,

  1. Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SVERI’s College of Engineering, Pandharpur, Maharashtra, India
  2. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SVERI’s College of Engineering, Pandharpur, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

The performance of an aerofoil is crucial in designing wind turbine blades, aircraft wings, and other aerodynamic surfaces. This project presents a comparative analysis of two widely used aerofoil profiles, NACA 4415 and NACA 2412, to study their lift and drag characteristics under different flow regimes. The aerofoil geometries were developed using the NACA four-digit notation and modeled in ANSYS Design Modeler. Numerical simulations were conducted in ANSYS Fluent for Reynolds numbers ranging from 10,000 to 200,000 with angles of attack (AOA) of 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, and 60°. A C-type computational domain with fine-structured meshing was employed to accurately capture external flow behavior. For both aerofoils, lift force (FL), drag force (FD), and their respective coefficients (CL, CD) were determined. Results show that lift and drag forces increase with higher Reynolds numbers and AOAs, with peak values typically observed at 30° or 45°, depending on the profile. At Re = 200,000, NACA 4415 achieved a maximum lift of 777.25 N at 30° with a drag of 209.20 N, while NACA 2412 produced a maximum lift of 86.69 N and drag of 82.11 N at 45°. Overall, both aerofoils demonstrate better performance at moderate AOAs, though NACA 4415 exhibits superior lift capability, making it more suitable for applications requiring enhanced lifting performance. This study highlights the influence of geometric differences on aerofoil behavior and provides valuable insights for optimizing aerodynamic systems.

Keywords: NACA 4415, NACA 2412, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Drag Coefficient (CD), Lift Coefficient (CL), Angle of Attack (AoA), Reynolds Number.

How to cite this article:
Digambar Tukaram Kashid, Sandeep Sitaram Wangikar. A Computational Study of Lift and Drag Characteristics for NACA 4415 and NACA 2412 Aerofoils. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(02):-.
How to cite this URL:
Digambar Tukaram Kashid, Sandeep Sitaram Wangikar. A Computational Study of Lift and Drag Characteristics for NACA 4415 and NACA 2412 Aerofoils. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(02):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=240580


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Ahead of Print Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
02
Received 05/09/2025
Accepted 08/10/2025
Published 23/04/2026
Publication Time 230 Days
40

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