Sharing some wing experiments with material, design and builds.
The Laser has ~950 sq.inches of sail per default (~2400 cm2). Keeping that same area and using the proportions from the reference boat in earlier post, then height will be 110cm and width 22cm using the aspect ration ~5:1.
The area of the trim tab should be ~12% of wing area and using same 5:1 aspect ratio gives height of 37cm, width 7cm. The control flap will have a lever arm with a length of 50% the wing span, so 110/2 = 55cm.
The wing profile will be a symmetrical airfoil, and trying to build it close to dimensions of NACA 0018 (nice and fat max thickness 18% at 30% chord) but I am just using a simple step design with no smooth curves, like Kline-Fogelman style.
I have also assumed the aerodynamic center of pressure will be at 25% of chord and will place rotation axes there (mast).
I have not used the water resistant foam board discussed previously but a 0.5mm think more simple one, coated with paper and thin plastic layer. The surface needs to be painted to protect from sun and water and paint seem to stick and stay on the surface and also keep water away. However, time will tell if it will fall a part or not. Good enough for now I think.
I made two Wing prototypes with the length of only 20cm not the full 110, to figure out how to use the hot glue etc etc. Both were designed to have a mast fixed to the boat and not turning as the Wing turns. Reason is to be able to mount the new wind instrument at mast top not at front deck. The mast is a 10mm diameter and 1mm think carbon fiber tube (same dimension as Laser default).
The first one has a PVC-U tube glued inside the wing with an inner diameter of 15mm. The idea is to have the fixed mast move inside the PVC tube using 3-5 bearings so the wing can turn without any binding.
However, having completed that I found it a bit heavy.
So I decided to make another one without any tubing. Idea is to drill a long hole for the mast after the wing is made. It could maybe work as good as the first one. The PVC tube will increases the weight ~80% and if completed the wing would weigh 0.55kg compared to 0.3kg without.
I am not sure I trust myself drilling a 110cm long hole in that wing. It seems hard to keep a straight angle for such a long hole. Just when drilling the 37 cm hole in the trim tab, it did not turn out straight. It was just barely acceptable.
So I ended up with the Wing in the first picture - that mast is glued in to the wing and is fixed there. It will not work to mount the wind instrument in mast top.
Maybe it can work as plan B if the other two wing designs fails.
I spend some time thinking how to design and attach the trim/control flap to the wing, with two rods or will one be enough? I decided to first try make it with one and if it fails then use two. For the mounting I came up with making a little housing with the PVC tube, just 3cm long, for two bearings. A carbon fiber tube running through the leading edge of the trim flap will then move inside the bearings without binding.
The housing will then be attached to just one rod that will be fixed to the Wing.
Thats next.
Also need attach a servo and a weight balance so the whole rig will be neutral.