Aerodynamics

ME-445 / 4 credits

Language: English

Summary

This course will provide the fluid dynamic background to understand how air flows around two- and three-dimensional wings and bodies and to understand and calculate the aerodynamics forces and moments acting on the objects as a result of the air flow.

Content

INTRODUCTION:
- Basic concepts
- Definitions
- Fundamental equations
STEADY INVISCID INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOWS
- Potential flow
- Infinite wing theory
- Finite wing theory
VISCOUS INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOWS
- Drag
- Boundary layes and flow separation
- Flow control

Keywords

airfoil, lift, drag, unsteady aerodynamics, flow separation, flow control

Learning Prerequisites

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

Describe the physical behaviour of a flow in scientific terms, AH1
Link flow behaviour with non-dimensional parameters (e.g. Reynolds and Mach numbers), AH2
Describe the physical differences between laminar and turbulent flows, AH4
Describe in detail the physical phenomena associated with the interaction of a flow with a solid wall (as a function of its characteristics, e.g. roughness), AH5
Describe flow in simple geometries, such as over a flat plate, in a tube, or around a sphere or airfoil, AH9
Work out / Determine the flight characteristics from a wing shape and chose a wing shape to provide the desired flight characteristics, AH10
Describe 3D effects resulting, for example, from a finite wing span or behind a blunt body, AH11
Solve analytically or numerically the potential flow around an airfoil, AH19
Describe the physical behaviour of a flow in scientific terms, AH1
Link flow behaviour with non-dimensional parameters (e.g. Reynolds and Mach numbers), AH2
Describe the physical differences between laminar and turbulent flows, AH4
Describe in detail the physical phenomena associated with the interaction of a flow with a solid wall (as a function of its characteristics, e.g. roughness), AH5
Describe flow in simple geometries, such as over a flat plate, in a tube, or around a sphere or airfoil, AH9
Work out / Determine the flight characteristics from a wing shape and chose a wing shape to provide the desired flight characteristics, AH10
Describe 3D effects resulting, for example, from a finite wing span or behind a blunt body, AH11
Solve analytically or numerically the potential flow around an airfoil, AH19

Transversal skills

Write a scientific or technical report.
Make an oral presentation.

Teaching methods

The course is in the form of a flipped classroom. Students must prepare for the classroom sessions by watching prerecorded videos.
Weekly exercise sessions in presence of teacher and teaching assistance in the classroom.
Weekly question & answer sessions with teacher in the classroom

Expected student activities

Attendance and participation in lectures and exercise sessions.
Group project on airfoil characterisation during the sememster.

Assessment methods

Written examination (70%)
Airfoil characterisation project with presentation during the semester (30%)

Supervision

Office hours	No
Assistants	Yes
Forum	No

Resources

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)

Bibliography

Fundamentals of Aerodynamics. John D Anderson. McGraw-Hill, 1985.
Aerodynamics for Engineering Students. E L Houghton, P W Carpenter, Steven H Collicott, and Daniel T Valentine. Elsevier, sixth edition, 2013.