An Equivalence Law Relating Three-and Two- Dimensional Pressure Distributions

Two wings may be said to have equivalent pressure distributions if the distribution of M~, the component of surface Mach number normal to the local isobars, is the same in both cases. A simple approximate method is given of calculating Mn from a knowledge of the pressure distribution, and some satisfactory comparisons with a more accurate theory are obtained. It is then possible to define an equivalent two-dimensional pressure distribution from a knowledge of the three-dimensional, distribution, or vice versa.