Low Speed Aerodynamics

By Jackie Berry
http://www.coolhdwallpapers.com/small_airplane_flying-wallpapers
Topics to Cover
History of Flight
How Airplanes Fly
Lift
Thrust
Drag
Characteristics of
Low Speed Aerodynamics
The History of Flight
Prior to the 17th century, very little was discovered
concerning the nature of flight.
1505 Da Vinci discovered that the center of gravity is not
the same as the center of pressure and sketched a flying
machine that resembled a bird (ornithopter).
Newton developed the first theory for air resistance. He
thought that drag was due to the shape of the flying object,
the density of the fluid, and the velocity of the object
(squared). Correct for low flow speeds.
Newton developed an equation for the drag force: F =
SV
2
sin
2
(). But only works for hypersonic flow speeds.
The History of Flight (cntd)
Sir George Cayley separated forces of lift and drag.
He knew that a flying machine would need some
kind of propulsion to fly. He researched shapes with
less drag and investigated the cross section of a
trout.
Francis H. Wenham constructed the first wind tunnel
in 1871.
1889: Charles Renard predicted the necessary
amount of power for sustained flight.
1903: The Wright brothers flew the first powered
aircraft. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT2dQB_OgFE&feature=related)
The History of Flight (cntd x2)
Kutta-Joukowski condition
(early 20th century)
described the
characteristics of flow
around an airfoil. This
contributed to the creation
of the Joukowski airfoil
which we use for airplanes
today.
QuickTime and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
www.viswiki.com/ en/Joukowsky_transform
How Airplanes Fly
http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/fltmidfly.htm
Four main forces on an airplane: thrust, drag,
lift, and weight.
Thrust and lift forces must be greater than
drag and weight forces for the plane to take
off.
During level flight with constant speed, the
net force on the aircraft is zero. So,
thrust=drag and lift=weight.
How Airplanes Fly
Lift
ksnn.larc.nasa.gov/ pokemon/unseen/main.html
Lift is generated when
the velocity of the fluid
over the wing is greater
than the velocity of the
fluid under the wing.
The higher the velocity,
the lower the pressure
and the lower the
velocity, the higher the
pressure. Thus, the
pressure under the wing
is greater than above,
generating LIFT!
Thrust
Thrust is the force created by the engines to
counteract the drag force.
A propulsion system generates thrust by
accelerating a mass of gas: the thrust is in the
opposite direction from the gas.
In aircrafts, thrust is produced by propellers or
jet engines.
Drag
All parts of airplanes produce drag when the airplane is in
motion (the drag force is produced when there is a
difference in velocity between fluid and object).
Drag is opposite to the direction of motion.
Similar to friction. The magnitude of force depends on the
properties of the surface material and the viscosity of the
fluid.
Drag is caused by the shape of the body (shape alters the
velocity and pressure).
Induced drag is produced when the airplane generates lift.
The magnitude depends on how much lift is created and the
shape of the wing tips.
Characteristics of Low Speed Aerodynamics
Low speed aerodynamics = subsonic aerodynamics.
Sometimes are also called inviscid, incompressible, and
irrotational.
Characterized by objects moving through fluids of
constant density (incompressible). Only works if the fluid
has a low speed.
Subsonic aerodynamics have mach<1
Typical subsonic aircrafts have mach numbers much
lower than 1 and travel around 250mph
A fluid is considered incompressible at mach<0.3. If
mach>0.3, compressibility must be considered.
Sources of Information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerodynamics
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-
12/airplane/thrust1.html
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-
12/airplane/drag1.html
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-
12/airplane/mach.html
http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/fltmidfly.htm