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Craig Datko CE 360 Extra Credit Final Draft November 26, 2012 Fluid Mechanics: The Forces of Airflow

on Aircrafts Fluid mechanics are a major factor in a planes flight process. Without the interaction of air, which is the primary fluid involved, planes would be incapable of flight. Different types of planes are designed based on the most effective ways to use air to its advantage. The main focus of this paper will be the interaction of fluids upon the wings and overall structure of a standard plane. The important aircraft forces as well as the design aspects that manipulate the fluids will also be discussed in this paper. On initial consideration, it appears illogical that an extremely large and heavy aircraft full of fuel, personnel and cargo could lift off, fly great ranges and land safely. After studying the forces of airflow on aircraft, it is fascinating how the effects of fluid mechanics enable flight. I have found that there are four major aerodynamic forces involved in flight. These four forces are thrust, drag, lift and weight which can be seen on the airfoil in a wind tunnel. The airfoil is the primary design feature of an aircraft wing responsible for the forces listed above. Thrust is the resultant forward force produced by the engine that overcomes the drag force. An example of items that produce thrust would be the force provided by an engine or a propeller. Drag is the retarding reverse force cause by disruption of a fluid flow that opposes thrust. As the aerodynamic force that opposes an aircraft's motion through the air, drag is generated by every part of the airplane. An example of drag is when wing flaps are put

perpendicular to the direction of flight in order to slow the plane. Lift is the upwards force that is the result of air acting on an airfoil that acts perpendicular to path and acts opposite of weight. An example of lift is the force that an airfoil produces as its leading edge travel forward through a fluid. Weight is the downwards force that acts at the center of gravity due to the weight of the plane and all its components that opposes lift due to gravity. Weight can vary for different aircrafts but is generally easy to predict and understand. Below is an image of these important aerodynamic forces.

The three primary parts of the plane that manipulate fluids in order to control the planes direction and other flight aspects are the elevators, rudder, and ailerons. Each affects a different axis on a typical plane. The rudder controls the yaw or adverse yaw of the plane by shifting left or right redirecting the air it is passing through. The rudder works in countering p-factor on plane with propellers since the aerodynamic phenomenon experience with propellers causes displacement of a propellers center of thrust. In general, the rudder controls movement along the

vertical axis. The elevators control the pitch and angle of attack of the plane. By moving up or down they redirect the flow of air behind it causing the nose to either shift up or down. By putting the elevator down the tail is forced up, increasing speed, which decreases the lift coefficient. The elevator controls movement along the lateral axis. The aileron controls the roll of the plane causing the plane to tilt to the left or right. Important for changing direction by having one flap move up and the other move down in order to create more drag on one side and less on the other. The aileron controls movement along the longitudinal axis. The effects of the combination of these three forces allow for in flight maneuvers. The airfoil is arguably one of the most important components of the standard plane. Without it lift would not be possible. Below is a diagram of the airfoil and the major components of it can be seen.

The airfoil works to support the climb in the following manner. The aircraft accelerates as the forward force produced by the engine overcomes the drag force and the weight force. Bernoullis Principle is the key to describing how airfoils work. The general idea that as a wing passes through the air its shape causes the air to travel more over the top of the wing than underneath it. This creates a higher pressure beneath the wing than above it. The pressure difference from above the wing and below the wing cause the wing to push upwards and lift is created. The perpendicular force of air molecules against the

wings has a greater force that air molecules striking the wing at relatively slanted angles allowing the plane to lift and climb. The combination of all the forces produced by the engine, the wings, the air molecules and the leading and trailing edge allow a plane to stay aloft. The lift of an aircraft depends on the interaction of the air molecules with the airplane wings. The design of the airfoil wings allows the forces to be utilized properly. The airfoil slices through the airflow. The air molecules move past the wing. The interaction of the air molecules is limited by the slanted angle of the airfoil which develops an area of lower pressure which allows for lift. This region of lower-than-normal air pressure is developed over the top surface portion of the airfoil and there is a relatively higher pressure existing on the bottom of the wing which allows for lift. The lift can be calculated from the pressure differences, or from different velocities of the air above and below the wing, or from the total momentum change of the deflected air. The opposite occurs when a plane slows and descends into an airport. Usually, aircraft wings have various devices, such as flaps that the pilot uses to modify the surface area of the wing to change its operating characteristics in flight or to slow the aircraft. The forward force produced by the engine is less than the drag force and the weight force and the breaking force of the wing flaps and the airplane decelerates and decreases in altitude and eventually lands and comes to a complete stop due to drag created. Upon landing spoilers are used to reduce the lift and transmit the weight component to the wheels. From here the braking systems can take effect. Another common landing method is reverse thrust. This is where the exhaust normally used for thrust is redirected in the opposite direction in order to slow the plane down

There are other miscellaneous forces and effects that need to be considered and I felt were appropriate in this topic. They are Viscosity, Wing Vortices and Ground Effect. Air has viscosity and will flow around the edges that it comes in contact with. This process will contain stagnation points and stress along the planes surface. Wing Vortices are developed by downwash which comes from the wing and is related to the distribution of lift on the plane. These vortexes generate from the tips of the wings and are better seen as the rotating air left behind in circular patterns. This is hazardous because if a larger plane is followed by a smaller plane the latter plane can be affected by wake turbulence causing a sometimes unrecoverable interference. Lastly, the Ground Effect is increased lift and decreased drag that is generated when flying close to a fixed surface. For example when a planes wings come close to the earth these forces actually help pilots come to safer landing. An understanding of this fluid phenomenon is highly important to a pilot who wants to safely land a plane. Flight is complex and involves many carefully coordinated forces and aspects. In conclusion, the process of flying that a plane goes through is heavily influenced by fluid mechanics. Pilots and airplane designers need to understand these principles to ensure the stability of the aircraft and for the safety of flight. Without these conditions, forces, and key parts the plane identified in this paper, aircraft would be incapable of flight. Understanding of fluid mechanics and the interactions it has with planes can greatly help the pilot better navigate and perform the task that has been given. Without this knowledge mistakes can be made that can cost lives, millions of dollars, and create other unnecessary losses.

Work Cited Duran, Terry L. Military Flight Aptitude Tests. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's, 2007. Print. "Bernoulli's Principle and Airplane Aerodynamics." Bernoulli's Principle and Airplane Aerodynamics. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://www.physicsmyths.org.uk/bernoulli.htm>. "ENGINEERING." : INTRODUCTION TO AEROPLANE. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://engg-learning.blogspot.com/2011/03/introduction-to-aeroplane-airplane-is.html>. "Wing Design - CONVENTIONAL AIRFOILS and LAMINAR FLOW AIRFOILS." Wing Design - CONVENTIONAL AIRFOILS and LAMINAR FLOW AIRFOILS. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/wing31.htm>.

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