Introduction to

Aerodynamics

Lecture 01 Introduction

Applications

History
Introduction to Aerodynamics Practical Objectives

Introduction, Applications & History, Objectives, Syllabus & Syllabus & Grading
Policy
Grading Policy

AE221 Aerodynamics

Manoj T. Nair
IIST
01.1
 Introduction to
Agenda Aerodynamics

Introduction

Applications

History
1 Introduction Practical Objectives

Syllabus & Grading

Policy

2 Applications

3 History

4 Practical Objectives

5 Syllabus & Grading Policy

01.2
 Introduction to
Aerodynamics Aerodynamics

Definition: Aerodynamics Introduction

Applications
Aerodynamics is a complex word originating from the History
Greek words Practical Objectives
air Syllabus & Grading
Policy
power or force
Ludwig Prandtl: The term aerodynamics is generally
used for problems arising from flight and other topics
involving the flow of air.
Aerodynamics is the study of forces and the resulting
motion of objects through the air.

01.3
 Introduction to
Applications I Aerodynamics

Introduction

1 Airplanes Applications

History
2 Launch Vehicles Practical Objectives

3 Automobiles Syllabus & Grading

Policy
4 Ships!
5 Internal combustion engines
6 Gas turbine engines
7 Wind turbines (Windmill)
8 Weather prediction
9 Buildings
10 Bridges
11 Building heaters and air conditioning
12 Cooling systems for computers
13 Sports

01.4
 Introduction to
History of Airplanes I Aerodynamics

Introduction
1 The idea of flying like birds had always fascinated human
Applications
beings History
2 Tower jumpers Practical Objectives

3 Ornithopter Syllabus & Grading

Policy

Leonardo da Vinci
4 Balloon
Nov 21, 1783: hot air balloon designed by Joseph and
Etienne Montgolfier flew with 2 passengers for 25 mins -
5miles across Paris
This was the first time in history that a human being had
been lifter off the ground
5 Fixed wing airplane
Sir George Cayley, 1799
First time lift generating and propulsion mechanism were
separated
Recognized that thrust has to overcome drag
Drew the first lift-drag vector diagram
In 1853, built the first human carrying glider
01.5
 Introduction to
History of Airplanes II Aerodynamics

6 Chauffeurs Introduction

Applications
The would be inventors wanted T-D to be a positive number
History
Therefore were obsessed with a powerful engine, which
Practical Objectives
turned out to be heavy.
Syllabus & Grading
They were not worried how will the machine be managed Policy
once it takes-off
7 Airman
Learn to fly before putting an engine
Otto Lilienthal - flew first successful gliders - 2000 flights
Octave Chanute - gliders
8 Powered flight
Samuel Langley: first small unmanned powered aircraft
Wright brothers:
airfoils
wing span
wing structure
high power/weight engine
propeller - blade element theory
roll control - wing wraping

01.6
 Introduction to
History of Theoretical Aerodynamics I Aerodynamics

Introduction
1 Initially aerodynamics dealt with very low speeds Applications
2 Therefore aerodynamics was founded theoretically on History

hydrodynamics Practical Objectives

Syllabus & Grading

3 L. Euler(1707-1783) derived the fundamental differential Policy

equations for non-viscous fluids

4 D. Bernoulli(1700-1782) established relation between
pressure and speed in a flow in an incompressible fluid
5 Navier & Stokes (1822) derived the fundamental
differential equations for viscous fluids
6 Ludwig Prandtl
1 Boundary layer theory, 1904
2 Circulation theory of lift, 1905
3 Lifting line theory, 1905
4 Thin airfoil theory, 1906
5 Oblique shock and expansion wave, 1906
6 Compressibility effects, 1907
7 Supersonic nozzles and flow, 1907

01.7
 Introduction to
Classification and Practical Objectives I Aerodynamics

What is the distinction between solid, liquid and gases? Introduction

Applications
Solids have a shape History

Liquids and gases take the shape of the container in which Practical Objectives

they are placed Syllabus & Grading

Policy

Liquids fill the container up to a given volume

Gases completely fill the container

What happens when a tangential force is applied to a

solid, liquid of gas?
Solids will experience a finite deformation
Shear stress (Tangential force per unit area) will usually be
proportional to the amount of deformation
Liquids and gases will experience a continuously
increasing deformation
Shear stress will usually be proportional to the rate of
change of deformation
Liquids and Gases are called fluids
01.8
 Introduction to
Classification and Practical Objectives II Aerodynamics

Introduction

Applications
Gases have the largest intermolecular spacing and the History
least intermolecular forces Practical Objectives

Syllabus & Grading

Policy
Fluid dynamics can be subdivided into three areas
1 Hydrodynamics - flow of liquids
2 Gas dynamics - flow of gases
3 Aerodynamics - flow of air
Generally the word aerodynamics is used liberally, and is
used cover both aerodynamics and gas dynamics
Practical Objectives
Obtain forces and moments of the body
Obtain heat fluxes on the body
Details of the flow field

01.9
 Introduction to
Syllabus I Aerodynamics

Introduction

Basics Applications

History
Classifications, Objectives
Practical Objectives
Forces, moments
Syllabus & Grading
Flow similarity Policy

Fundamental Principles & Equations

Control volume approach
Continuity, momentum and energy equations
Pathlines, streamlines and streaklines
Stream function, velocity potential
Circulation
Inviscid, incompressible flows
Bernoulli’s equations
Inviscid, irrotational flows
Laplace equation
Elementary flows
non-lifting and lifting flows over cylinder
Kutta-Joukowski therem

01.10
 Introduction to
Syllabus II Aerodynamics

Incompressible flow over airfoils Introduction

Applications
Airfoil nomenclature
History
Kutta condition
Practical Objectives
Kelvin’s circulation theorem
Syllabus & Grading
Starting vortex Policy
Classical thin airfoil theory
symmetric and cambered airfoil
aerodynamic center
Vortex panel method
Incompressible flow past finite wings
Downwash and induced drag
Vortex filament and sheet
Biot-Savart Law
Helmholtz’s theorems
Prandtl’s lifting line theory
Lifting line and vortex lattice method
Viscous flow over wings
Rocket aerodynamics

01.11
 Introduction to
Grading Policy Aerodynamics

Introduction

Quiz 1 15 Applications

Quiz 2 15 History

Assignment 15 Practical Objectives

Syllabus & Grading

Project 5 Policy

Final Exam 50

Text Books
1 John D. Anderson, Jr., Fundamentals of Aerodynamics.
2 Joseph Katz & Allen Plotkin, Low-Speed Aerodynamics.
3 Arnold M. Kuethe & Chuen-Yen Chow, Foundations of
Aerodynamics.
4 J.J. Bertin & R.M. Cummings, Aerodynamics for
Engineers.
5 E.L. Houghton & P.W. Carpenter, Aerodynamics for
Engineering Students.
6 N.F. Krasnov, Aerodynamics I & II

01.12