2 ms·
You seem knowledgeable about this. Do you mind expanding on why these aren’t more efficient?
by strongpigeon 4y ago
You seem knowledgeable about this. Do you mind expanding on why these aren’t more efficient?
- kridsdale2 4y agoI'm no aerospace engineer, but the flux through the air, driving resistance, seems obviously higher the more you move away from the shape of a missile.
- schiffern 4y agoThe problem is frontal area is higher, so more drag. Wetted area[1] is also much higher, so there's a lot of skin friction. The advantages are (theoretically) lower structure mass per passenger. But airplane cabins are pressurized, and lightweight pressure vessels 'want' to be cylinders or spheres, not big flat boxes. There's a aerospace engineering student who gave a thesis talk on the disadvantages of blended wing-body, and offers some possible solutions.[2] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetted_area https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetted_area [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWBaddGG6z8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWBaddGG6z8