Aerodynamics

Abstract

Aerodynamics refers to the study of forces applied to a solid object such as an airplane wing by a gas (typically air) flowing around it. Such a flow can be created either by moving the solid object through the atmosphere, or by blowing the air past a stationary object in a wind-tunnel. Since it is only the motion of the air relative to the object which creates the aerodynamic forces, it is unimportant how the flow has been generated as long its velocity and acceleration relative to the object are the same. For this reason, aerodynamic behavior of an airplane in actual flight can be understood by studying a model of a similar shape placed in a wind-tunnel. The relationship of the actual airplane’s dimensions with those of the model is called scaling, which also affects the flow conditions (density, velocity, temperature, etc.) required for simulating the actual aerodynamic properties in a wind-tunnel test. The fluid being an infinite medium can have its properties changing from point to point. Let us define the flow properties as those of a tiny volume of fluid called a fluid element. This element can move by translation and rotation, and its shape can also deform due to internal stresses. It is useful to define the properties of the flow far upstream of the object. These are called the freestream properties. The relevant freestream properties which dictate the magnitudes of the aerodynamic forces experienced by an airplane wing are the relative airspeed, the atmospheric density, and air temperature.