Aerodynamics

Lecture 1
Prof. Jaime Alberto Escobar G.
Faculty of Engineering
Aerodynamics
CONCEPT OF
CONTINUUM
The average distance air molecules can travel
Mean free path before collision with a neighbor molecule (In
the order of 8 x 10-8 m)

R: Universal gas constant.

𝑅𝑇 T: Temperature.
𝜆=
√ 2 𝜋 𝑑2 𝑁 𝐴 𝑃 d: Molecular diameter.
NA : Avogadro number.
P: Pressure.

The continuum assumption of the classic fluid static and dynamic equations is valid
provided the mean free path of the molecules is smaller than the characteristic
dimensions of the flow domain:

𝜆 ≪𝑑
𝜆
Knudsen number 𝐾𝑛= Kn  1
𝑑

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Aerodynamics
EXTERNAL
AERODYNAMICS
• Bodies immersed in a fluid.
• The main interest is to predict forces and moments.

INTERNAL
AERODYNAMICS
• Flow inside ducts: engines, pipes, rockets, pumps, nozzles, etc...
• Calculation of engine thrust in a combustion chamber.

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Aerodynamics
AERODYNAMICS CLASSIFICATION
(Speed)
• M < 0.3 = Subsonic incompressible aerodynamics.
• 0.3 < M < 0.8 = Subsonic compressible aerodynamics.
• 0.8 < M < 1.2 = Transonic aerodynamics.
• 1.2 < M < 4~5 = Supersonic aerodynamics.
• 4~5 < M = Hypersonic aerodynamics.

FLOW
PROPERTIES
a. Pressure.
• The intensity of the molecular bombardment force.
dF  F
• In average: P  lim   P
dA 0dA  A
b. Density.
• Measure of the amount of material contained in a given volume.

• 
In average: 𝜌 = lim
𝑑𝑉 → 0
( 𝑑𝑚
𝑑𝑉 )  𝜌=
𝑚
𝑉

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Aerodynamics
FLOW PROPERTIES
(Cont’d)
c. Temperature.
• Measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules in the gas.

3 KE: Mean molecular kinetic energy.

KE  kT k: Boltzman constant.
2 T: Temperature.
d. Viscosity.
• The tendency of a fluid to resist sliding between layers.
• In liquids is caused by intermolecular forces (viscosity decreases with T).
• In gases, the viscosity is associated with exchange of momentum (viscosity
increases with T).

• Dynamic (absolute) viscosity

𝐹
𝐴
=𝜏=𝜇
𝑑𝑣
𝑑𝑦 ( )
• Kinematic viscosity : It may be regarded as a measure of 𝜇
the relative magnitudes of viscosity and inertia of the 𝜈=
𝜌
fluid.

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Aerodynamics
SPEED OF
SOUND
• Propagation velocity of pressure waves in a medium.
• For perfect gases: 𝐶𝑣
𝑎= √𝛾 𝑅𝑇 𝛾= 1.4
𝐶𝑝
for air
z 𝑉 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟
• Mach number 𝑀= =
𝑎 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑
⃗
𝑉
⃗
𝑉 =𝑢 𝑣 +⃗
⃗ +⃗ 𝑤
x
|𝑉⃗|=speed
y

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Aerodynamics
SPEED OF
SOUND
• For an ideal gas:

PV  mRT
or

 𝑃=𝜌 𝑅𝑇

• Conditions for equation of state to

be valid:

1. Low pressure.
2. Continuum assumption.

PV
Z
mRT

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
Aerodynamics
AIRFOILS AND AERODYNAMIC
FORCES
• Aerodynamic forces are due to:
1. Pressure distribution over the body surface.
2. Shear stress distribution over the body surface.

• The total pressure and shear stress over the surface produce a resultant force (R)
and a moment (M).

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Aerodynamics
PREDICTION OF AERODYNAMIC
FORCES

CLvsAlpha.png

Lecture 1 Page 9 of 11
Aerodynamics
PREDICTION OF AERODYNAMIC FORCES
(Cont’d)

Lecture 1 Page 10 of 11
Aerodynamics
HOMEWOR
K
1. Review the Lecture “Math Review” (Quiz)
2. Read from the book Anderson, Jr., J.D., Computational Fluid Dynamics, Singapure,
McGraw Hill, 1995 Sections: 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4.

COMPLEMENTARY
ACTIVITIES
Search internet for:
• “Continuum Hypothesis”
• “Continuum Assumption”
• “Mean free path”
• “Internal aerodynamics”
• “External Aerodynamics”
• “Mach Number”
• “Equation of state”

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