6th Elements of Unsteady

Aerodynamics
Xie Changchuan
2014 Autumn

Content
1Basic aerodynamics
2Quasi-steady aerodynamics
3Theodorsens unsteady aerodynmics
4Brief introduction of doublet-lattice method

Main Aims
Understanding the basic concepts,
methods and engineering calculation
of unsteady aerodynamics concerning
the dynamic aseroelasticity of aircraft

Basic aerodynamics
Airflows in nature

Flow around
mountains

Unsteady
vortexes
are major
movement
pattern
But,
where is
Steady
laminar
flow??

Flow on the Earth

Vortex
flow of
tornado
3

Basic aerodynamics
Flows around aircraft

Trailing vortex
of transporter

F-18 breaks the

sound barrier

Detached vortex
of delta wing

Basic aerodynamics
Real flow and the
solution of equations
Solutions of N-S and Euler equation

Flow around a ball

Laminate flow around

a cylinder

Laminate flow around a

lateral oscillated cylinder

Basic aerodynamics
Laminated
boundary layer

transition
region

turbulent
boundary layer

Flow patterns
around airfoil

Subsonic flow pattern of a wall

Laminated flow

Interfering flow of
front and hind wing

Basic aerodynamics
Concepts:

1continuity

m
= lim
V 0 V

Note: N-S equations has its application range

2Newton fluid (viscosity assumption)

Shear stress:

du
=
dy

Dynamic friction
coefficient

Navier-Stokes equations

y
u

Inviscid, no heat conduction

3Ideal fluid
Euler equation
Ignoring the rotation effect of fluid particles
4Irrotational flow
Full Potential Equation
7

Basic aerodynamics
Concepts:

5compressible and incompressible flow

is a function of
space and time

is constant

a M 0

6Lagrangian and Eulerian description

x = x ( X ,t)

Eulerian space
coordination

Coordinaiton
of material

Material (total)
derivative

D D
=
Dt Dt X

Changing rate of
Function along X

Space (local)
derivative

d d
=
dt dt x

Changing rate of
Function along x

DF dF
dF
F
=
+ (v i grad ) F =
+ vi
Dt
dt
dt
xi
Local rate

Convective derivative

Basic aerodynamics
Concepts:
Steady
flow

7Steady and unsteady

dvi
=0
dt

(i = x, y, z )

the space derivatives of flow

field are aero, i.e. the velocity of
any point in field keep constant.

But, it does not means the accelerations

of fluid particles are zero.

Dvx dvx
v
v
=
+ vx x + v y x
x
y
Dt
dt

vx1 vx 2
vx1 vx 3
Unsteady flow

vx
0
x
vx
0
y

1
3

x1 = x3

Dvx

0
Dt

y1 = y2

Steady boundary conditions

Unsteady boundary conditions
Concerned by aeroelasticity

Basic aerodynamics
Concepts:

8Assumption of small turbulence

vx =
= v + vx , v y =
= v y , vz =
= vz
x
y
z

Full potential
of velocity

Define small disturbing

velocity potential

vx =
, vy =
, vz =
x
y
z
9equations of small velocity potential
Subsonic
Supersonic

= v x +
M not close to 1

2
2
2

2
(1 M ) 2 + 2 + 2 = 0
x
y
z
2
2
2

2
( M 1) 2 2 2 = 0
x
y
z

10

Basic aerodynamics
Concepts:
Full velocity
potential

10Equations of ideal incompressible flow

2 2 2
+ 2 + 2 =0
2
x
y
z

2
2
2

Small disturbing
+ 2 + 2 =0
2
velocity potential
x
y
z
All equations are Laplace

2 = 0
2 = 0

Characters of equations 1Linear, superposition principle

2fundamental (singular) solutions,
2Dpoint source(sink), point vortex, doublet,
3Dvortex line, vortex panel, doublet panel,
1Analytical methods: power series, spectral method
Solving method 2Singular solutions method: linear elements,
panel elements(engineering approach)
of equations:
3Conformal transformation method: 2D problems
4Numerical methods: numerical differential(CFD) 11

(t)

Quasi steady aerodynamics

Grossman theory
V

Airfoil modeling = attach vortex + free vortex

Semi camber line

Airfoil modeling by
unsteady vortex

h(t)

On trailing line

Assumption of quasi steady: ignoring the free vortex effects on attach vortex
According to the practical experiences, the effects of airfoil thickness and
camber on unsteady aerodynamics could be ignoring too.

Flat airfoil model

Chord2b
Aero center1/4 chord
Elastic centerE, ab after semi chord
Pitching, + nose up
Plungingh, + downward
Inflow speedV

x
ab

E
z
12

Quasi steady aerodynamics

Aerodynamics

2b

2b

L = V ( x)dx = V ( x)dx
w( x) =

Induced velocity
/Down wash

2b

( )
d
2 ( x)

w( x, t ) z ( x, t ) 1 z ( x, t )
=
+
V
V t
x

Boundary
condition
Kutta condition

(2b) = 0

Considering the plunging

and pitching of plane airfoil
Let

z( x, t ) = h( x, t ) + [ x (1 + a)b]a( x, t )

x = b(1 cos )

Write the down wash

as series form

w = V ( A0 + An cos n )
n =1

Already satisfied the Kutta condition

13

Quasi steady aerodynamics

Substituting the down wash into boundary condition, it gets

z 1 z
A0 =
( +
)d

0 x V t

An =

(
0

z 1 z
+
) cos n d
x V t

Substitute the motion of plane airfoil into them

b
A2 = 0
V
h 1

Lifting
L = 2V 2b[ + + ( a )b ]
V
V
2
Moment about leading point

A0 = a

1
( h ab )
V

A1 =

2b

b 1
M LE = V x ( x)dx = L + V 2b 2 ( A1 A2 )
2 2
0

M L E =

b
1
L Vb3
2
2

Moment about elastic center

1+ a 1
h 1
1
)[ + + ( a )b ] Vb3
M E = 4V 2b 2 (
2
4
2
V
V 2

14

Quasi steady aerodynamics

Lifting coefficient

h 1

CL = 2 [ + + ( a )b ]
2
V
V
b
1
= CL

4
4V

Moment coefficient
about leading point

CmLE

Moment coefficient
about elastic center

1 1+ a
b
CmE = (
)CL

4
2
4V

Homework
Considering a plane airfoil in harmonic pitching and plunging
moving respectively, please draw the displacements, lifting
coefficient, and moment coefficient about elastic center. Then
discuss their phase different and where they come from.
Amplitude of pitching angle: 5 degree;
Amplitude of plunging: 0.1b;
Vibration frequency: k=b/V=0.2

15

(t)

Unsteady aerodynamics
Theodorsen theory

V
h(t)

Airfoil modeling = attach vortex + free vortex

Semi camber line

Airfoil modeling by
unsteady vortex

On trailing line

2D, incompressible, potential, unsteady

b

Flat airfoil model

x
ab

Chord2b
Aero center1/4 chord
Elastic centerE, ab after semi chord
Pitching, + nose up
Plungingh, + downward
Inflow speedV

E
z

16

Unsteady aerodynamics
2 2
+ 2 =0
2
x
z

Small disturbing
velocity potential
(Laplace)
Boundary condition
Far field
Free vortex

w( x, t ) z ( x, t ) 1 z ( x, t )
=
+
V
V t
x

On airfoil

0
p = 0

2 = 0

z
x>b

Relationship of circulation, vortex strength and disturbing potential

x

( x, t ) = ( , t )d = (

U L

)d = ( x)

Pressure coefficient is given by unsteady Bernoulli equation

c p =

V
V
(
+
)
=
(
+
)
2
2
t
x
x
V
V t
17

Unsteady aerodynamics
Free vortex condition
Is changed to

+V
=0
t
x

x
V

= (t )

( z = 0, x > b)

1 ( , t )
=
w( x, t ) =
d

z z = 0
2
x
For a moving airfoil, induced velocity is equal to down wash velocity,
then the boundary condition on airfoil is satisfied.

Induced velocity
on airfoil

Solve the integrate equation to determine the vortex strength or circulation,

then the aerodynamics on airfoil can be calculated.

1
L = b (V + h ab ) 2VbC (k )[V + h + ( a )b ]
2
1
1
2

M E = b 2 [ ab(V + h ab ) Vb b 2 ]
2
8
b
1
2 1
k
=
+ 2Vb ( + a )C ( k )[V + h + ( a )b ]
V
2
2
k is induced frequency
H1(2)
C (k ) = (2)
Theodorsen function
H is Hankel function 18
H1 + iH 0(2)

Unsteady aerodynamics
Write the Theodorsen function into real part and imaginary part

C (k ) = F (k ) + iG (k )

(i = 1)

F(k ) 1.0

G(k ) -0.20

0.9

-0.16

0.8

-0.12

0.7

-0.08

0.6

-0.04

0.5

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0

When k F(k) 0.5, G(k) 0

19

Unsteady aerodynamics
y

Subsonic DLM
A kind of panel method
j

F1F3 1/4 chord line

F1 aero center
H
Control point,
at which the boundary
conditions are satisfied

1
=
8

H
j

Border line at span position should

be along the direction of inflow

1
2

V
c p j x j cos j Kij dl j

lj
j =1 2

c
j =1

F3

F2

1
wi =
4V 2

F1

pj

x j cos j Kij dl j
lj

(i = 1, 2,

, nj = 1
2n)
20

Unsteady aerodynamics
1
2 1
Pressure
p = V D w
distribution
2
D is the matrix of aerodynamic influence coefficient

Dij =

x j
8

Down wash of
moving wing

cos j K ij dl j
j

(i=1,2,,n;j=1,2,,n)

w = ( F + i F )q
b

q General coordinate vector

F Modal shape at all point H
F The derivative of matrix F along x direction
b Reference length
b
V Flight speed
k Reduced frequency k =
V
Circular frequency

p = Pq

P=

1
k
V 2 D 1 ( F + i F )
2
b

21

Summary

22