An expert and contemporary presentation of computational analysis and design tools for professionals studying or applying the principles of aerodynamics
In Aerodynamics: A Computational Introduction, a distinguished aerospace engineer and researcher Krzysztof Fidkowski delivers an up-to-date and authoritative reference text covering the essentials of aerodynamics. The book covers key topics, including basic fluid dynamics, potential flow, airfoil theory, boundary layers, wing theory, and compressible flow.
Fidkowski takes a computation-first approach to the subject matter, presenting aerodynamics in a way that is compatible with the way the subject is handled in contemporary businesses and research labs. Aerodynamics offers numerical demonstrations, codes, and theory comparisons that make important derivations and conclusions easier to understand and apply.
Readers will also find:
- A self-contained introduction to the thermodynamics, mathematics, and numerical methods central to the subject of aerodynamics
- Comprehensive explorations of kinematics, dynamics, and potential flow
- Practical discussions of panel methods and airfoil theory, including design tools
- Numerical and analytical tools for boundary-layer analysis
- Complete treatment of finite-wing theory, including horseshoe vortices, lifting-line theory, and the vortex-lattice method.
Perfect for engineering students who want to learn how to apply basic numerical methods to large-scale aerodynamics problems, Aerodynamics: A Computational Introduction will also benefit professionals who wish to better understand aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics.
Preface vii
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Physics of Fluids 1
1.2 Mathematics Review 5
1.3 Numerical Methods 16
1.4 Summary and Concepts 21
1.5 Problems 23
2 Kinematics 25
2.1 The Material Derivative 25
2.2 Flow Lines 31
2.3 Vorticity and Circulation 36
2.4 Conservation of Mass 39
2.5 Velocity Potential and Stream Function 42
2.6 Rotation and Deformation of a Fluid Element 47
2.7 Summary and Concepts 53
2.8 Problems 54
3 Dynamics 57
3.1 Conservation of Momentum 57
3.2 Surface Forces 61
3.3 The NavierStokes Equations 69
3.4 A Finite-Difference Solver 72
3.5 Bernoullis Equation 77
3.6 Streamline Curvature 82
3.7 Summary and Concepts 85
3.8 Problems 86
4 Potential Flow 89
4.1 Formulation 89
4.2 Elementary Flows 95
4.3 Superposition 99
4.4 Images and Motion 111
4.5 The KuttaJoukowsky Theorem 116
4.6 Summary and Concepts 120
4.7 Problems 120
5 Airfoil Theory 123
5.1 Airfoil Nomenclature 123
5.2 The Kutta Condition 124
5.3 Discrete Vortex Models 126
5.4 The Vortex-Panel Method 133
5.5 The Thin-Airfoil Model 139
5.6 Thin-Airfoil Solutions 142
5.7 Airfoil Design 150
5.8 Joukowsky Airfoils 155
5.9 Summary and Concepts 159
5.10 Problems 160
6 Boundary Layers 163
6.1 Effect of Viscosity 163
6.2 Boundary-Layer Equations 165
6.3 A Finite-Difference Boundary-Layer Solver 170
6.4 Laminar Flow over a Flat Plate 174
6.5 FalknerSkan Flows 183
6.6 The Integral Boundary-Layer Equation 192
6.7 Turbulent Boundary Layers 199
6.8 Summary and Concepts 209
6.9 Problems 210
7 Finite Wings 213
7.1 Fundamentals 213
7.2 Horseshoe Vortices 219
7.3 Lifting-Line Theory 226
7.4 Lifting-Line Solutions 231
7.5 Wing Design 238
7.6 The Vortex-Lattice Method 244
7.7 Trefftz-Plane Analysis 248
7.8 Summary and Concepts 251
7.9 Problems 252
8 Compressible Flow 255
8.1 Compressibility Effects 255
8.2 Compressible Potential Flow 256
8.3 Subsonic Flow 260
8.4 Supersonic Flow 265
8.5 Airfoil Design 274
8.6 Wing Design 279
8.7 Summary and Concepts 286
8.8 Problems 287
References 289
Index 291
Krzysztof J. Fidkowski, PhD, is a Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan. He teaches aerodynamics, numerical methods, computational fluid dynamics, viscous and turbulent flow, and introductory aerospace engineering. His primary area of research is algorithmic development for computational fluid dynamics.
