Sustainable Elevator Profile Design: Improving Aerodynamic Efficiency in Experimental Aircraft
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20983/culcyt.2026.1.2e.4Keywords:
Computational Fluid Dynamics, fuel, elevator, aerodynamic efficiency, airfoilAbstract
This work focuses on the sustainable design of elevator profiles, aimed at improving aerodynamic efficiency in 28 experimental aircraft in order to reduce fuel consumption and the associated environmental impact. Three aerodynamic profiles (NACA 2412, NACA 0012, and S2050) were compared using simulations on two computational fluid dynamics platforms, evaluating their performance under specific conditions of an experimental aircraft. Analysis of the properties revealed that the NACA 0012 profile offers the highest efficiency, standing out for generating the necessary lift with less drag. The selection of this profile is in line with eco-innovation principles, as greater aerodynamic efficiency means a reduction in the power required and, therefore, lower fuel consumption and pollutant emissions during operation. Although the study did not consider all available profiles, the selection of NACA 0012 constitutes a significant improvement over commonly used alternatives, as it aligns with the objectives of sustainability and resource 36 optimization in experimental aviation. Consequently, the implementation of this profile in the elevator not only promotes a more efficient design, but also drives eco-innovation in the aeronautical sector, contributing significantly to an industry with a lower environmental impact.
Downloads
References
J. Anderson, Fundamentals of Aerodynamics, 6.ª ed. Nueva York, EUA: McGraw-Hill Education, 2017.
I. Da Riva, “Aerodinámica”, en Curso de Conferencias Sobre Tecnología Aeronáutica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, oct.-dic. 1991.
D. R. Flores, “Diseño de Perfiles Aerodinámicos”, tesis de grado, ESIME, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, 2006.
S. Pinzón, “El Perfil Alar y su Nomenclatura NACA”, Ciencia y Poder Aéreo, vol. 8, n.º 1, pp. 26-32, en.-dic. 2013.
E. G. Paipa-Sanabria, D. Gonzales y J. Coronado, “Understanding Eco-Innovation: A Critical Examination of Theories and Tools for Achieving Societal Sustainability”, J Sustain Res, vol. 7, n.º 1, pp. 1-25, mar. 2025, doi: 10.20900/jsr20250013.
E. E. D. Delarze y E. M. P. Reyes, “Análisis Numérico de la Estabilidad y Control de una Aeronave no Tripulada”, en Mecánica Computacional vol. XXII, ENIEF 2003 - XXII Congreso sobre Métodos Numéricos y sus Aplicaciones, 2003, pp. 1136-1148.
A. I. Carmona, Aerodinámica y Actuaciones del Avión, 10.ª ed. Madrid, España: Paraninfo, 2000.
S. Ravikanth et al., “A Effect of Elevator Deflection on Lift Coefficient Increment”, IJMER, vol. 5, n.º 6, pp. 9-25, 2015.
J. Kentfield, “Lift/Drag Ratios of Aircraft with Outboard Horizontal Stabilizers”, en 46th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Reston, Virgina: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, en. 2008, pp. 1-11, doi: 10.2514/6.2008-299.
I. Abrantes, A. F. Ferreira, L. B. Magalhães, M. Costa, y A. Silva, “The impact of revolutionary aircraft designs on global aviation emissions”, Renew Energy, vol. 223, p. 119937, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.119937.
G. Mutanov, Z. Omirbekova, A. A. Shaikh y Z. Issayeva, “Sustainability-Driven Green Innovation: Revolutionising Aerospace Decision-Making with an Intelligent Decision Support System”, Sustainability, vol. 16, n.º 1, p. 41, 2024, doi: 10.3390/su16010041.
C. Y. Goh, C. Y. Leow y R. Nordin, “Energy Efficiency of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces: A Comparative Study”, Drones, vol. 7, n.º 2, p. 98, 2023, doi: 10.3390/drones7020098.
R. A. Márquez, M. A. Martínez y M. J. Martínez, “Diseño de superficies de control para aeronaves radiocontroladas. Caso: prototipo clase Micro SAE Aero Design”, Rev. Fac. Ing. Univ. Antioquia, n.º 104, pp. 71-82, jul. 2021, doi: 10.17533/udea.redin.20210740.
F. Mohamad y M. Y. Yusri, “Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Simulations of Wavy Leading Edge NACA0012 Wings”, J. Aeronaut. Astronaut. Aviat., vol. 56, n.º 1S, pp. 477-485, 2024, doi: 10.6125/JoAAA.202403_56(1S).35.
“Airfoil Tools”. airfoiltools.com. Accedido: ag. 19, 2024. [En línea]. Disponible: http://airfoiltools.com
Y. A. Çengel y J. M. Cimbala, Fluid Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications, 1.ª ed. Nueva York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2006.
F. M. White, Fluid Mechanics, 7.ª ed. McGraw-Hill, 2011.
B. Steenwijk y P. Druetta, “Numerical Study of Turbulent Flows over a NACA 0012 Airfoil: Insights into Its Performance and the Addition of a Slotted Flap”, Appl. Sci., vol. 13, n.º 13, p. 7890, 2023, doi: 10.3390/app13137890.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Jeannette Abril Nevárez Sánchez, Arturo Paz Pérez
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Todos los contenidos de CULCYT se distribuyen bajo una licencia de uso y distribución “Creative Commons Reconocimiento-No Comercial 4.0 Internacional” (CC-BY-NC). Puede consultar desde aquí la versión informativa de la licencia.
Los autores/as que soliciten publicar en esta revista, aceptan los términos siguientes: a) los/las autores/as conservarán sus derechos de autor y garantizarán a la revista el derecho de primera publicación de su obra; y b) se permite y recomienda a los/las autores/as agregar enlaces de sus artículos en CULCYT en la página web de su institución o en la personal, debido a que ello puede generar intercambios interesantes y aumentar las citas de su obra publicada.
