Unsteady Aerodynamics Independent Study Proposal

Overview of topics:

This independent study will cover the basics of both steady and unsteady aerodynamics. The
topics relevant to steady aerodynamics will include: derivation and use of partial differential
and integral equations of incompressible and compressible flow; introduction to and use of
complex variables and conformal mapping techniques for obtaining analytical solutions to two-
dimensional problems; implementation of lifting line theory and panel methods to obtain the
flow around three dimensional bodies. The study will cover the classical unsteady aerodynamic
problems underlying the field of aeroelasticity through the analysis of airfoil pitching, heaving,
and airfoil-gust interaction and aeroelastic stability.

Detailed Objectives:
i) Review basics of fluid motion, and equations of fluid dynamics along with various
flow parameters
ii) Be able to define inviscid, and incompressible flow, and develop analytic form of
various potential flow solutions such as: doublet flow, flow over cylinder, rotating
cylinder, etc.
iii) Understand and develop analytical formulations of 2D airfoil theory. These include
subtopics such as: conformal mapping, and the Joukowski transformation,
iv) Understand and develop using software of choice (MATLAB, Python etc.) numerical
solutions to 2D airfoil theory. Panel methods will be explored.
v) Understand flow of 3D wings. Subtopics include: lifting line model, slender wing
theory, slender body theory, and far field calculation of induced drag. Numerical
(panel) methods will also be introduced for the 3D wing.
vi) Study the details of incompressible and compressible 2D unsteady aerodynamics.
This will be done through a detail study of topics such as airfoil pitching, heaving,
and airfoil-gust interaction.
vii) Brief introduction of aeroelasticity will be presented. Topics in flutter boundaries
and stability will be explored.

Reference Texts:
Material for the study will be drawn from, but not limited to the following list of texts:

 Low-speed Aerodynamics; From Wing Theory to Panel Methods, Joseph Katz and Allen
Plotkin, San Diego St. Bookstore, 1999.
 Aeroelasticity, Raymond Bisplinghoff, Holt Ashely, and Robert Halfman, Addison-Wesley,
1955 (Dover now)
 An Introduction to the Theory of Aeroelasticity, Y. C. Fung, Dover, 2002.