Selection of highest performing symmetrical national advisory committee for aeronautics profile airfoils with the help of multi-criteria decision making methods

Abstract

This study presents a multi-criteria decision-making approach to compare and evaluate the aerodynamic performance of 4-digit National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics airfoils. The Multi-Attribute Utility Theory method was used to normalize the criteria, and the Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis method was employed to determine the weights of the criteria. The Borda method was applied to combine the results of 200 different scenarios, considering ten different Reynolds number values and 21 different alpha angles. The results show that the order of superiority of the 4-digit National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics profiles, from high to low percentage, is lift to drag ratio, drag coefficient, lift coefficient, moment coefficient, pressure coefficient, ease of manufaction, strength, and weight. The study concludes that the proposed methodology can provide useful insights for decision-makers in selecting the most appropriate airfoil profile for specific applications.The study found that the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics 0014 airfoil profile provides the best overall performance based on the Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis, Multi-Attribute Utility Theory and Borda methods. The findings of this study can be useful in the design and optimization of airfoils for various applications, including aircraft wings, wind turbines, and propellers.