Chap4: Basic Aerodynamics

Principles of Flight (MEC 2710) 1

Inviscid Flow
• For the steady incompressible flow of a frictionless fluid in a stream tube of
varying area, P and V are the meaningful flow variables; ρ and T are constants throughout
the flow. To solve for P and V, use

• The isentropic flow of a gas is governed by

• For steady isentropic (adiabatic and frictionless) compressible flow

in a stream tube of varying area,
P, ρ, T, and V are all variables. They are
obtained from

Principles of Flight (MEC 2710) 2

 Viscous Flow

• Viscous effects create a boundary layer along a solid surface in a flow

flow. In this boundary layer
layer, the flow moves
slowly and the velocity goes to zero at the surface.

shear stress is larger for a turbulent boundary layer than for a laminar boundary Layer

Principles of Flight (MEC 2710) 3

Viscous Flow

• For a laminar incompressible boundary layer

layer, on a flat plate
plate,

Df = Cf S 1/2 ρ V2

Principles of Flight (MEC 2710) 4

 Viscous Flow

• Whenever a boundary layer encounters an adverse pressure gradient (a region of increasing pressure in the
flow direction), it can readily separate from the surface. On an airfoil or wing, such flow separation decreases
the lift and increases the drag.

Profile drag = Drag due to viscous effects= drag due to skin friction + drag due to separation
Dvsicous = Df + Dp (pressure or form drag)

Total aerodynamic drag = Dviscous + Dinduced

Principles of Flight (MEC 2710) 5

Speed of Sound

Principles of Flight (MEC 2710) 6

 Mach Number

• M<1 flow is subsonic

subsonic.
• M=1 flow is sonic.
• M>1 flow is supersonic.

• transonic flow, where M generally ranges from slightly less than to slightly greater
than 1 (for example, 0.8 < M < 1.2)

• hypersonic flow, where generally M > 5.

Principles of Flight (MEC 2710) 7

LOW-SPEED SUBSONIC WIND TUNNELS

• What are wind tunnels? Æ ground-based

ground based experimental facilities designed to
produce flows of air (or sometimes other gases) that simulate natural flows
occurring outside the laboratory.

• For aerospace engineering applications, wind tunnels are designed to simulate

flows encountered in the flight of airplanes, missiles, or space vehicles. from low
subsonic to hypersonic

Principles of Flight (MEC 2710) 8

 LOW-SPEED SUBSONIC WIND TUNNELS

• i A2l Al is
The area ratio
Th i a fifixed
d quantity
i ffor a wind
i d tunnell off given
i d
design.
i Th
The
"control knob" of the wind tunnel controls PI – P2, which allows the wind tunnel
operator to control the value of test section velocity V2

Principles of Flight (MEC 2710) 9

LOW-SPEED SUBSONIC WIND TUNNELS

• In subsonic wind tunnels,
tunnels a convenient method of measuring the pressure
difference P1- P2, and hence of measuring V2, is by means of a manometer.

• The specific weight (weight per unit volume) of manometer fluid is w = ρ g

• In modern wind tunnels, manometers have been replaced by pressure transducers

and electrical digital displays for reading pressures and pressure differences
differences.

Principles of Flight (MEC 2710) 10

 MEASUREMENT OF AIRSPEED

• to obtain a point measurement of velocity at a given spatial location in the flow

flow.
This measurement can be made by an instrument called a Pitot-static tube
• Total pressure at a given point in a flow is the pressure that would exist if the flow
were slowed down isentropically to zero velocity

dynamic pressure

Principles of Flight (MEC 2710) 11

Pitot-static tube

Principles of Flight (MEC 2710) 12

 Pitot-static tube
• Either a Pitot tube or a Pitot-static tube can be used to measure the airspeed
of airplanes. Such tubes can be seen extending from airplane wing tips, with the tube
oriented in the flight direction

• If ρ is the true value Æ true airspeed

• If we use the standard sea-level

value of ρs Æ equivalent
or indicated airspeed

Principles of Flight (MEC 2710) 13

Assignment

• Chap 4: 3 10 12 15 20 22 24 28 34*

Principles of Flight (MEC 2710) 14