Linearized Compressible Potential Flow Governing Equation Recall the 2-D full potential eqn is:

1 1 2 2 2 1 ( ) 1 ( ) x y xy = 0 + x xx y yy 2 2 a2 a a 1 2 Where a 2 = a o ( x ) 2 + ( y ) 2

As you saw, for small perturbations to a uniform flow, the linearized form of the equation was: = perturbation 2 =0 (1 M ) xx + yy potential Where v v u = u iv + u v v + v u = = u x xj yJ
= v y

perturbation velocity

This equation is valid for both M < 1 and M > 1 . Note, though, it is not correct for M 1 or for M large, say greater than about 2 or so. So what happens to the linearized potential equation for M > 1 : Subsonic Flow M < 1
2 1 M >0 Elliptic PDE (Laplaces eqn)

Supersonic M > 1
2 1 M <0 Hyperbolic PDE (wave eqn)

2 = 0 is much easier to solve when M > 1 . It also turns out that (1 M ) xx + yy

2 = M 1

Define

=0 2 xx yy

Then,

( x, y ) = ( ) where = x y
is a solution to the linearized potential. To see this:

Linearized Compressible Potential Flow Governing Equation

= = x x = = y y
Similarly, = xx

d d

= 2 2 2 xx yy ( ) is solution to linearized
potential!

= 0

= yy
2

is constant for lines described by = x y = const. For This means that example, consider an airfoil: = const.
M > 1 V

= x y = const
2 = M 1

dy = dx

1
2 M 1

will be determined by the boundary conditions on the So, the values of surface. Recall: v v u n = 0 on boundary v n For linearized flow, this b.c. reduces to: dy = V v
dx

Also, note that: = = u x = v = = u v y

V ) u=

on boundary

16.100 2002

Linearized Compressible Potential Flow Governing Equation

This is very useful because the linearized pressure coefficient is:

Cp = p p 2u = 1 V V 2 2

Cp =

2
2 M 1

on boundary!

C p > 0 for > 0 (i.e. a compression)

C p < 0 for < 0 (i.e. an expansion) Using linear potential theory, lets calculate the lift and drag coefficients for a flat plate at , M , C Ppu y

M > 1

C pl
Find Cl & Cd :

C pu = C pl =

2 u
2 M 1

= 2 M 1 Then, the result is a force in the y - direction: c 1 Fy = V2 C pl C pu dx o 2

2 l

1 Fy = V2 C C pl C pu 2 Fy C fy = C p l C pu 1 V2 c 2 Finally, we need to rotate this into lift and drag directions: C l = C f x sin + C f y cos C d = C f x cos = C f y sin
But, in our case, C f x = 0 & << 1

Cl C f y Cd C f y
3

16.100 2002

Linearized Compressible Potential Flow Governing Equation

Cd (linear potential theory)

0 0

16.100 2002