Example Problem: Flat Airfoil in Supersonic Flow

An infinitely thin flat plate is placed at an angle of attack = 5 in a Mach

2.6 flow. Calculate the lift and wave-drag coefficients.
Solution

(a) M1 = 2.6
= 50

--M | = 26.50

3
M1n = M1sin = 2.6 sin(26.50) = 1.16 (Table A.2) | p1 = 1.403

p01
= 19.95
M1 = 2.6 (Table A.2) |
p1
(Table A.5) | 1 = 41.410
2 = 1 + = 41.41 + 5 = 46.41 (Table A.5) | M2 = 2.83

02
(Table A.1) | p2 =28.4

p2
p 2 p02 p01
=
= (0.0352) (1) (19.95) = 0.7022
p1
p02 p01 p1

Cl =

L ' ( p3 p2 ) c cos p3 p2
=
=
cos
q S
qc (1)
q

1
p1 1V12 p1V12
2
=
= p1 M 12
q = q1 = V1 =
2
2
2 p1
2 a1
2

Cl =

2( p3 p2 )
2 p3 p2
2
cos =
(1.403 0.7022)cos50
cos =
2
2
2
p1M1
M1 p1 p1
1.4(2.6)

Cl = 0.148

2 p3 p2
sin
sin 50
Cd =
= 0.148
sin = C
M 12 p1 p1
cos
cos 50
Cd = 0.0129