Aerodynamics and Its Implementation

Introduction
Whats Aerodynamics?
Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object.

Understanding Aerodynamics:
Understanding the motion of air (often called a flow field) around an object. Flow field enables to determine properties including velocity, pressure, density and temper ature as a function of position and time.

The Greatest Application

The use of aerodynamics through mathematical analysis, empirical approximations, wind tunnel experimentation, and computer simulations form the scientific basis for heavier-than-air flight.

Identifying Aerodynamics Implications

Via The Flow Environment 1.External Aerodynamics 2.Internal Aerodynamics Via Sonic characterstics 1.Transonic 2. Supersonic 3. Hypersonic

Beginnings
First studies of air/wind resistance (drag) by Aristotle, da Vinci and Galileo.

Leonardo da Vinci wrote the Codex on the Flight of Birds, one of the earliest treatises on aerodynamics, concept of ornithopter.

Sir Issac Newton giving a developed theory of air resistance, making him one of the first aerodynamicists. F for the drag force, for the density, S for the area of the flat plate, V for the flow velocity, and for the inclination angle, his law was expressed as F = SV2sin2() Which proved to be quite benefitial for low flow speeds.

18th to 19th Century time log

World knows about Bernoullis Principle in his book Hydrodynamica. Through his formula Aerodynamic lift is being derived. Sir George Cayley is credited as the first person to identify the four aerodynamic forces of flight weight, lift, drag, and thrustand the relationship between them.

A drawing of a glider by Sir George Cayley, one of the early attempts at creating an aerodynamic shape.

Through more precise ways to measure resistance an object was placed and studied within an artificial, uniform stream of air where the velocity is known. This attempt further lead to introduction of Reynolds number by Osborne Reynolds. In 1889, Charles Renard, a French aeronautical engineer, predicts the power needed for sustained flight.

Practical flight - early 20th century

In their own wind tunnel, the Wright brothers gained just enough knowledge of aerodynamics to fly the first powered aircraft on December 17, 1903, just in time to beat the efforts of Samuel Pierpont Langley. The Wright brothers' flight confirmed or disproved a number of aerodynamics theories. Newton's drag force theory was finally proved incorrect. This first widely-publicised flight led to a more organized effort between aviators and scientists, leading the way to modern aerodynamics.

Replica of the Wright Brothers' wind tunnel at the Virginia Air & Space Museum in Hampton, VA.

Basic Governing Concepts:

Conservation Laws as applied to fluid continuum
Continuity : If a certain mass of fluid enters a volume, it must either exit the volume or change the mass inside the volume. The differential form of the continuity equation is: dp/dt+Dru =0 Above, is the fluid density, u is a velocity vector, and t is time.

For flow through a tube with one inlet (state 1) and exit (state 2) as shown in the figure in this section, the continuity equation may be written and solved as:

r1u1A1= r2u2A2

Continuity assumption
Gases are composed of molecules which collide with one another and solid objects. If density and velocity are taken to be well-defined at infinitely small points, and are assumed to vary continuously from one point to another, the discrete molecular nature of a gas is ignored. The continuity assumption becomes less valid as a gas becomes more rarefied. In these cases, statistical mechanics is a more valid method of solving the problem than continuous aerodynamics.

Conservation of Momentum:
This equation applies Newton's second law of motion to a continuum, whereby force is equal to the time derivative of momentum. For instance, F could be expanded into an expression for the frictional force acting on an internal flow.

a control volume analysis yields:

Conservation of Energy
Although energy can be converted from one form to another, the total energy in a given system remains constant.

Above, h is enthalpy, k is the thermal conductivity of the fluid, T is temperature, and is the viscous dissipation function.

the energy equation in terms of the control volume may be written as:

Incompressible Flow Equation or Bernoullis Equation

Bernoulli performed his experiments on liquids and his equation in its original form is valid only for incompressible flow. A common form of Bernoulli's equation, valid at any arbitrary point along a streamline where gravity is constant, is:

Lift of wing

Magnus Effect

Aerodynamics: Flight Concepts

Four forces on a plane

Weight

Drag

Thrust

Lift

Unbalanced Forces :: There Causes

Think About It Its Tug-of-War

The motion of the airplane through the air depends on the relative strength and direction of the forces weve discussed.
If the 4 forces are balanced, the aircraft cruises at constant velocity and altitude. If the forces are unbalanced, the aircraft accelerates in the direction of the largest force.

Aircraft Motion
Aircraft move in 3D (dimensions) Pitch (up and down) Yaw (left and right) Roll ALL motion occurs around the balance point, called the Center of Gravity (CG)

Aircraft Control

Pitch

Roll

Yaw

More on Lift Lift in Depth

Streak Lines 10 AOA

AOA: Angle Of Attack - the angle that the wing meets the oncoming air.

Note: Downwash Air Accelerated Down

Airflow Around a Wing

Notice that: Air on top arrives well before air below. accelerated (stretched in the diagram) Air below decelerated (arrives after free stream) (compressed in the diagram)

Aerodynamics in cars : Vehiclaerodyn

Influence of flow characteristics on the operation of vehicles Objectives of improvement of flow past vehicle bodies: reduction of fuel consumption more favourable comfort characteristics (mud deposition on body, noise, ventilating and cooling of passenger compartment) improvement of driving characteristics (stability, handling, traffic safety)

Vehicle aerodynamics includes three interacting flow fields: flow past vehicle body

flow past vehicle components (wheels, heat exchanger, brakes, windshield)

flow in passenger compartment

Approaches in vehicle aerodynamics 1

1900-1920 Adaptation of shapes from other fields

Torpedo

Airship

Boot

Approaches in vehicle aerodynamics 2

1920-1970 Adaptation of results of airplane and airship development: streamlining

Approaches in vehicle aerodynamics 3

1970-1990 Detail optimization

Approaches in vehicle aerodynamics 4

1990 - Basic form Optimisation

Change of drag coefficient of cars

Characteristics of flow past vehicle bodies

Complex 3D turbulent flow in relative co-ordinate system. Classification of flow field:
Front: stagnation point, overpressure, accelerating flow Side walls, roof: boundary layer separation depending on the rounding up of leading edges around the front. Rear wall: in separation bubble nearly constant pressure below the ambient, strong turbulent mixing Underbody gap: surrounded by rough and moving surfaces, decreasing velocities downstream, sideward outflow

Turbulence reduction

Reduction of side wall, roof and underbody drag (decrease of shear stresses)

a) Roof and side wall drag can be reduced by reduction of roughness of the wall (no protruding parts, frames) b) Underbody drag can be reduced by reducing the roughness (covering) and reducing the velocity in underbody gap (tight underbody gap, front spoiler )

Effect of add-on devices and limits of aerodynamic drag reduction

Increase of driving stability reducing aerodynamic lift

a) Aerodynamic lift is particularly important at high performance and racing cars where the negative lift increases the speed in curves
b) Lift can be reduced by spoilers under the front bumper and at the upper horizontal trailing edge

c) At racing cars airfoils and underbody devices increase the negative lift

How design decides a winner???

At high speed aerodynamic effects play an enormous role in car performance. By taking advantage of the effects of lift racecars have been able increase their corning ability, which in turn decreases lap time. Also by minimizing drag they can maximize the top speed of the car.

Model Testing in a Wind Tunnel

We used a 1/12 scale model of a car, because full-scale prototype testing is more expensive and time consuming By running the model in wind tunnel at different velocities we are able to model different actual car velocities, gathering relevant information concerning aerodynamics.

Racecar Progression
Reduction in aerodynamic drag by streamlining the shape of the vehicle. Increase the down force, negative lift, to increase cornering speeds.

Spoiler Effect
The addition of a spoiler on the car results in greater downward force (or negative lift) which results in better cornering The addition of a spoiler also increases the amount of drag on the car

With or Without Spoiler

Coefficient of Downforce
0.12 0.1 0.08 0.06 NASCAR w/o spoiler NASCAR w/ Spoiler

CL

0.04 0.02 0 80000 -0.02 -0.04

100000 120000 140000 160000 180000 200000 220000 240000 260000 280000

Re

Why Drivers Draft?

Behind the car is a low pressure/low velocity pocket which aids in the reduction of drag on the following car This increases efficiency and speed for both cars

Drafting

Internal Aerodynamics:
Internal aerodynamics is the study of flow through passages in solid objects. For instance, internal aerodynamics encompasses the study of the airflow through a jet engine or through an air conditioning pipe.

Characteristic flow speed to the speed of sound comprises a second classification of aerodynamics
Subsonic if all the speeds considered are less than the speed of sound, transonic if speeds both below and above the speed of sound are present Supersonic when the characteristic flow speed is greater than the speed of sound Hypersonic when the flow speed is much greater than the speed of sound. Aerodynamicists disagree over the precise definition of hypersonic flow; minimum Mach numbers for hypersonic flow range from 3 to 12

Incompressible aerodynamics
An incompressible flow is characterized by a constant density despite flowing over surfaces or inside ducts. A flow can be considered incompressible as long as its speed is low. For higher speeds, the flow will begin to compress as it comes into contact with surfaces.

Subsonic Flow
Subsonic (or low-speed) aerodynamics is the study of fluid motion which is everywhere much slower than the speed of sound through the fluid or gas. Governed by simplified version of equations of fluid dynamics.

Compressible aerodynamics
According to the theory of aerodynamics, a flow is considered to be compressible if its change in density with respect to pressure is non-zero along streamline. Transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flows are all compressible.

Aerodynamics in other fields Significant factor in any type of vehicle design, including automobiles. Structural engineers also use aerodynamics, and particularly aeroelasticity, to calculate wind loads in the design of large buildings and bridges. Urban aerodynamics seeks to help town planners and designers improve comfort in outdoor spaces, create urban microclimates and reduce the effects of urban pollution. The field of environmental aerodynamics studies the ways atmospheric circulation and flight mechanics affect ecosystems.

The aerodynamics of internal passages is important in heating/ventilation, gas piping, and in automotive engines where detailed flow patterns strongly affect the performance of the engine.