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Module 08-01
Basic Aerodynamics
08 - 01- 1
AeroGATES: PART-66 courseware 08 – Basic aerodynamics
Category A B1 B2 B3 01- Physics of the atmosphere
Level 1 2 3
Table of contents
08 - 01- 2
AeroGATES: PART-66 courseware 08 – Basic aerodynamics
Category A B1 B2 B3 01- Physics of the atmosphere
Level 1 2 3
08 - 01- 3
AeroGATES: PART-66 courseware 08 – Basic aerodynamics
Category A B1 B2 B3 01- Physics of the atmosphere
Level 1 2 3
1. PROPERTIES OF THE STANDARD ATMOSPHERE:
The characteristics of the atmosphere, basically, influence the behavior of the aircraft. The pressure, the density as well as the temperature decrease with
altitude.
1.1. Parameters:
The atmosphere can be represented by physical models. These theories link together atmospheric variables such as density, pressure and
temperature.
3
Density () in kilograms per cubic meter (Kg/m )
Pressure (P) in pascals (Pa)
Temperature (T) in Kelvin (K)
08 - 01- 4
AeroGATES: PART-66 courseware 08 – Basic aerodynamics
Category A B1 B2 B3 01- Physics of the atmosphere
Level 1 2 3
08 - 01- 5
AeroGATES: PART-66 courseware 08 – Basic aerodynamics
Category A B1 B2 B3 01- Physics of the atmosphere
Level 1 2 3
08 - 01- 6
AeroGATES: PART-66 courseware 08 – Basic aerodynamics
Category A B1 B2 B3 01- Physics of the atmosphere
Level 1 2 3
The table of the standard parameters is prepared by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The following formulae allow us to calculate
to an approximate value.
For an altitude ranging between 0 and 11 km:
20 - Z 3
ρ Z = ρ0 in kg/m (kilogram per cubic meter)
20 + Z
2
31 - Z
PZ = P0 in Pa (pascal)
31 + Z
TZ = T0 - 6,5 Z in K (Kelvin)
08 - 01- 7
AeroGATES: PART-66 courseware 08 – Basic aerodynamics
Category A B1 B2 B3 01- Physics of the atmosphere
Level 1 2 3
M (kg)
ρ (kg.m3 ) =
V (m3 )
Density of air is the ratio of a mass of air to its volume.
08 - 01- 8
AeroGATES: PART-66 courseware 08 – Basic aerodynamics
Category A B1 B2 B3 01- Physics of the atmosphere
Level 1 2 3
Consider a mass of air in a cylinder closed by a piston. By applying a force to this same piston we generate a decrease in volume and the density of
air increase.
It is noted that on the face of this cube, the surrounding air exerts a force F towards the cube and perpendicular to this face. The origin of this force is
thus the weight of the air located at the top of the cube.
Thus, the face of surface S is subjected to a pressure F/S.
This value of pressure is identical on all the faces and does not change. It is therefore an intrinsic value at the center of this cube.
The value attached to this point is the static pressure (Ps): it is Σ of the forces that the surrounding air exerts at a point
08 - 01- 9
AeroGATES: PART-66 courseware 08 – Basic aerodynamics
Category A B1 B2 B3 01- Physics of the atmosphere
Level 1 2 3
F (N)
P (Pa) =
S (m2 )
Torricelli experiment shows that, at sea level, the atmospheric pressure H is:
ρghS
P0 = 1 atm. = F = = ρgh
S S
13.6 × (103 kg/m3 ) × (9.81N/kg) × (0.76m) × S
S
P0 = 1.014 × 105 Pa = 1.014 bar
It is said that the static pressure or ambient is an absolute pressure in opposition to pressures known as differential which
are of different type (example: dynamic pressure).
Laplace’s equation provides information on the variation of static pressure according to the variation of altitude:
08 - 01- 10
AeroGATES: PART-66 courseware 08 – Basic aerodynamics
Category A B1 B2 B3 01- Physics of the atmosphere
Level 1 2 3
When the altitude increases, this equation indicates that the pressure decreases especially when is bigger. It is thus observed that this decrease
will be larger at low altitudes than at high altitudes.
It clearly appears that the higher we go in the atmosphere, the more the weight of the airstream located above the measuring point decreases.
08 - 01- 11
AeroGATES: PART-66 courseware 08 – Basic aerodynamics
Category A B1 B2 B3 01- Physics of the atmosphere
Level 1 2 3
We have just described the three parameters which define the state of the air at rest.
It is important to remember the law of the ideal gases, in which the pressure, the volume and the temperature are directly related. R is the the constant
of ideal gases. For one mole of ideal gas,
PV = RT
R = 8.31 J.K-1
08 - 01- 12
AeroGATES: PART-66 courseware 08 – Basic aerodynamics
Category A B1 B2 B3 01- Physics of the atmosphere
Level 1 2 3
In a flow considered incompressible, along the flow of molecules, when speed varies, the pressure acts in the opposite direction.
Bernoulli’s equation in incompressible fluid:
08 - 01- 13
AeroGATES: PART-66 courseware 08 – Basic aerodynamics
Category A B1 B2 B3 01- Physics of the atmosphere
Level 1 2 3
Ps + 1
2 .ρ.V 2 = const
Let us start from this equation, and observe in a tube of fluid flow, the displacement of a point having values of pressure and speed. Like the points,
the quantity Ps + 21 .ρ.V 2 remains fixed.
This is the major reason why aircraft can fly. The presence of a wing in a flow and its shape will vary the air speed around the wing. Change of speed
will give rise to variations of pressure which will generate aerodynamic force known as lift.
08 - 01- 14