AERODYNAMICS

By Aryan, Trisha and Adya

Let’s share our journey!
Getting In the Zone - Activity

Why are aeroplanes always an expensive transport?

Can they be made cheap with good facilities?

ithink
Probing Questions:

1. How does an aeroplane fly?

2. What is the most expensive material used in an aeroplane?
3. What are the forces acting, for it to fly?
4. How did scientists discovered the shape of aeroplanes?
5. Can the aeroplane be made using eco- friendly materials?

Driving Question:

How can we make aeroplanes a cost- effective transport?

iPlan

To reach to our final product, we needed guidance about the needed research to
make a model.

We had a session with Daniel Curry, our school director about how does an
aeroplane fly. We got know:

1. Forces acting upon an aeroplane

2. Effect of weather on an aeroplane
3. How do planes stay in the air?
 Materials currently used in aircrafts
Currently used metal:
Currently the most used material in aeroplanes is aluminium. It is lightweight and
strong. It is also eco- friendly because it uses only 5% of the energy in processing from
bauxite ore. But its cost is three times more than steel.

Highly used fuel:

Aviation kerosine is the most used fuel in aeroplanes. It maintains low viscosity because of its low
freezing point. This means it will keep the plane running as it should and won't clog up the engine.
Kerosene is much cheaper than gasoline, making it a more affordable option for airlines.
Use of Aluminium in aircrafts
Alternatives
Aluminium Alternatives:
1. Stainless steel in replacement with aluminum.
2. Titanium in place of aluminium.
3. Carbon fibres for most of the parts of an aeroplane. It is 40% more lightweight than aluminium.
4. Alloy titanium with iron or manganese to construct the frame and engines for airplanes.

Alternative to fuels in the aeroplane:

1. SAF is made from 100% renewable, low-carbon feedstocks, such as oil residue, animal fat, and cooking grease.
2. The Avgas 100 is also a alternative for air plane as it contains High Octane gas (OCTANE-100)
3. Synthesized Iso-paraffins (SIP) which convert sugars into jet fuel.
4. SAJF are alternative in that they are produced primarily from non petroleum sources of hydrocarbons using a
potentially broad range of biochemical and thermochemical conversion processes.
Biomimicry
➔ We have a lot to learn from nature. It gives us ideas for our innovations.
➔ The shape of an aeroplane was taken from the body shape of a fish.
Why was the idea taken from a fish?
➔ A fish has a streamlined body for it to cross through water and swim easily. Similarly,
the shape of an aeroplane was designed similar to a fish for it to cross the air.
➔ But fish is an animal made to live in water and aeroplane had to be used to fly so to
improve the structure of the plane, the body structure was also taken from a bird
Biomimicry examples in other fields

1. Climbing pads capable of supporting human weight are a mimic of the biomechanics of gecko
feet.
2. The aerodynamics of the famous Japanese Bullet train was inspired by the shape of a bird’s beak.
3. The first flying machine heavier than the air from the Wright brothers, in 1903, was inspired by
flying pigeons.
4. Architecture is inspired by termite mounds to design passive cooling structures.
5. Velcro is born from the observation of the hooks implemented by some plants for the propagation
of their seeds via animal’s coat.
6. The study of shark skin is at the origin of particularly effective swimming suits, as well as a
varnish for planes fuselage
How does an aeroplane fly?

● The four forces that are involved in flight are gravity/ thrust, lift, thrust and drag.
● Gravity is the force that will attract bodies towards each other it plays a large role in
things getting off the ground.
● Lift, the opposite force of weight pushes upwards on the aeroplane. Also force with lift
should be greater than weight for the object to fly.
● Drag is also referred to as aerodynamic resistance and acts to slow down the flying
object. It works in the opposite direction to the direction of flight.
● Thrust is the force that creates forward motion. It must overcome drag or there will be
no forward flight movement. It is the opposite force of drag.
What can we change to reduce
the cost?
Changes to make in the manufacture of Boeing Commercial Airlines

Current Cost of boeing 5 major commercial airlines:

 What are the most expensive parts of an aircraft?
1. Engine
The engine is one of the most expensive parts of an airplane. The engines used in large passenger airliners can
cost many millions of dollars. For example, the 747-400 has three engine options ranging in price from $11
million to $12.2 million.

2. Avionics
The avionics, which includes the controls and GPS navigation systems in the cockpit, are also costly. A basic GPS
navigator for a small plane costs about $20,000. A full avionics panel for a 747 may cost $100,000 or more.

3. Cockpit Windshield
Another major cost is the cockpit windshield and the windows of the airplane. The average cockpit windshield
costs over $26,000 while each window may cost about $500.
Titanium as an alternative to Aluminum

1. Production of high-quality, titanium-alloy slabs using advanced melting techniques will streamline the
production of plate product used to manufacture engine and aircraft components, allowing the use of a
higher percentage of low-cost meltstock (recycled titanium) and eliminating ingot-breakdown steps.
● Laser forming- process to produce titanium components by using localized deposition of alloyed titanium
● Vacuum-die casting of titanium components is an new process technology that has the potential to
shorten casting lead times, improve product quality, and also reduce casting costs. Developing and
implementing this advanced casting technique will broaden the application base for castings in critical
structural applications and provide widespread cost savings.
● Aluminum-beryllium products possess a unique combination of extremely low-density and
high-structural properties. Successful development and demonstration of this class of metals will provide
a low-cost, weight-equivalent replacement for organic matrix composites currently used for lightweight
structural skins.
Existing materials in every component
Spanish
iReflect

1. What did we learn during the preparation?

2. What difficulties we faced?

3. How can we do better next time?

Bibliography

1. Scientists in School Teacher Resource Package: Air and flight

2. Reducing Costs in Aircraft: The Metals Affordability Initiative Consortium
3. Budgeting: designing the necessary inputs to achieve goals
4. https://mse.skule.ca/guide/
5.