Aerodynamics

Syllabus

1. Introduction (3 hours)
   1. Fundamental aerodynamic variables
   2. Lift, drag, moment and related coefficients
   3. Types of drag: parasitic drag and induced drag
   4. Types of flow: continuum versus free molecule flow, inviscid versus viscous flow, incompressible versus compressible flow, Mach number regimes
2. Fundamental Principles and Equations (6 hours)
   1. Vector operations
   2. Fluid flow models: control volume, infinitesimal fluid element, molecular
   3. Conservation equations (mass, momentum and energy)
   4. Substantial derivative
   5. Pathlines, streamlines, and streaklines of a flow
   6. Pressure distribution and force integration
3. Inviscid, Incompressible Flow (12 hours)
   1. Bernoulli's equation, low-speed wind tunnel flows
   2. Governing equations and boundary conditions
   3. Elementary flows (uniform, sources, sinks and vortex)
   4. Ideal lifting flow past a circular cylinder
   5. Kutta-Joukowski theorem and lift generation
   6. Source panel method for non-lifting flows
   7. d'Alembert's paradox
4. Incompressible Flow Over Airfoils (12 hours)
   1. Airfoil nomenclature and characteristics
   2. Kutta condition and Kelvin's circulation theory
   3. Thin airfoil theory (symmetric, cambered)
   4. Aerodynamic center
   5. Vortex panel method for lifting flows
   6. Qualitative picture of viscous flow
5. Finite Wing Theory (9 hours)
   1. Downwash and induced drag
   2. Vortex filament, Biot-Savart law and Helmholtz's theorems
   3. Prandtl's lifting line theory: elliptical and general lift distribution, effect of aspect ratio
   4. Numerical lifting-line method
   5. Case study of delta wings
6. Three-Dimensional Incompressible Flow (3 hours)
   1. Three-dimensional source and doublet
   2. Flow over a sphere: relieving effect
   3. Panel techniques for three-dimensional flows
   4. Case study of flow over a sphere
   5. Applied aerodynamics: airplane lift and drag

Practicals

1. Application of dimensional analysis for wind tunnel testing
2. Testing and instrumentation: methods of qualitative and quantitative analysis
3. Flow visualization: smoke flow
4. Flow visualization: Schlieren
5. Flow visualization: particle image velocimetry
6. Determination of lift coefficient of an airfoil
7. Determination of drag coefficient of an airfoil

Evaluation

1. Chapters 1 and 2 (9 hours): 10 marks
2. Chapter 3 (12 hours): 20 marks
3. Chapter 4 (12 hours): 20 marks
4. Chapters 5 and 6 (12 hours): 10 marks