17349 - Aircraft Aerodynamics

Learning outcomes

Aim of the course is to present the fundamental aspects for the study and the analysis of phenomena in the field of aircract aerodynamics. By means of the physical and fluid mechanic background, acquired in the first two years of the first level degree, the student should be capable to describe the main physical mechanism that rule the generation of lift and drag on the entire aircraft or on any single element and to assess numerically, when it is possible, a first estimation of these forces.

Course contents

1. FUNDAMENTALS OF FLUID DYNAMICS

Characterization of fluids and their motion - The equations of motion - Origin and dynamic of vorticity - The boundary layer - Transition and separation of the boundary layer - Origin of forces on aerodynamic bodies
 
2. WING PROFILES
General statements - Geometry and classification of wing profiles - Pressure distributions on airfoils and their performances - High angle of attack aerodynamics for wing profiles

Numerical estimation of lift on wing profiles
Potential theory - Conformal mapping - Thin airfoils theory - Surface Panel methods for airfoils - Effects of compressibility - Wing profiles in transonic regime - Wing profiles in supersonic regime - Shock expansion theory - Linearized theory
Numerical estimation of drag on wing profiles
Friction drag - Flat plate at zero angle of attack - Integral methods - Form drag - The drag of a cylinder at different Reynolds numbers
Airfoil design
Thick profiles - High lift profiles - Transonic (supercritical) airfoils - High lift devices
3. FINITE WINGS
General statements - Velocity and vorticity field on finite wings - The wake and the induced drag
Numerical estimation of lift on finite wings
Lifting line theory - Surface panel methods for finite wings - Swept wings - Effects of compressibility - Wings in supersonic regime - Delta wings
Numerical estimation of drag on wing profiles
3-D boundary layers
Finite wing design
Geometry and lift distribution along the wing span ? Finite wing stall ? Performances of finite wings
4. THE COMPLETE AIRCRAFT
Aerodynamics of the fuselage - The tail - The canard configuration -Tailless configurations - Drag and Lift of the complete aircraft

Readings/Bibliography

Aerodinamica-Notes from Prof. Buresti
Fundamentals of Aerodynamics - John D. Anderson - Third edition - Mc Graw Hill. ISBN: 0072373350
Applied Aerodynamics - A Digital Textbook-Ilan Kroo-Desktop Aeronautics Inc.

Teaching methods

Lectures and exercises given by the docent. During the course, seminars and integrative courses, given by highly distinguished lecturers, will be organised. They will be focused on specific aerodynamic topics for the Aerospace Engineering. These arguments will be part of the program and can be the part of the final exam.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of a single session in which the student should answer firstly a written test. The correction of the test will be when the student have finished and will be the base for further oral questions on the subject. The student must show a sufficient skill in writing down and commenting the mathematical and physical models as well as the different experimental techniques

Teaching tools

Blackboard, slides and power point presentations

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Talamelli