8.2- Aerodynamics Flashcards
What is the dynamic pressure proportional to?
Density and square of velocity.
What is the formula for Kinetic energy?
Half p x V squared
p= air density
How is kinetic energy passed onto the tube material?
Usually as elastic potential energy.
What is streamline or free stream flow?
Where the particles of a fluid move in an orderly manner and maintain relative positions.
What is laminar flow?
Smooth regular airflow patterns around an object
When does turbulent flow occur?
When air is disturbed and separates from the surface.
What is the result of turbulent flow?
Formation of swirling eddies in the bodies wake.
Is the air compressible in the subsonic region?
No
What does the continuity equation state?
Speed of the airflow is inversely proportional to the area of the cross section of the tube.
What is a diffuser outlet?
Used when the diameter increases and the speed decreases.
In Bernoulli’s principle when the valve is closed what is the total pressure?
Equal to the static.
In Bernoulli’s principle does the total pressure ever change?
No
Where is actual static pressure measured?
Static port
Because there is only a total pressure pitot and static how is dynamic measured?
Total - static = dynamic
How much does the dynamic pressure increase when the speed increases 4 times?
16 times
How is the dynamic pressure indicated to the pilot?
As indicated air speed (IAS)
What is the point of stagnation?
The point where the airflow falls to zero and the static pressure equals the total pressure.
If there’s no dynamic pressure what else is there not?
Flow
In a venturi tube where is the airflow the fastest?
The narrowest point.
What is the boundary layer?
The layer of air immediately in the area of the surface.
What is the no slip condition?
Where the air on the skin is stationery due to friction.
What happens in the air layers between the no slip and free stream?
Each layer shears slightly more than the last.
What happens to the boundary layer as the aircraft velocity is increased?
It becomes thinner.
What happens if the air viscosity is decreased or density is increased?
The boundary layer becomes thinner.
What is the laminar flow?
When the particles all flow parallel to one another in layers.
Why is laminar flow desirable?
High lift and low skin friction.
Why is laminar flow low drag?
Low shear stress of the layers of air.
How is it easier to achieve a laminar flow?
With a positive pressure gradient from the leading edge.
The pressure gradient is negative from where to where.
From the thickest part of the wing to the trailing edge.
How does wing stall happen?
When the energy in the flow is insufficient, it detaches from the surface and the flow stops and starts to reverse.
What does an increase in angle of attack do to the flow?
Airflow becomes more turbulent.
What is relative airflow?
Direction of airflow with respect to the object moving through it.
What is the stagnation point?
Region of space around the aircraft where the velocity of the relative airflow is zero.
What does the stagnation point result in?
Local static pressure.
What is a common stagnation point?
Leading edges of the wing
In straight and level flight the laminar boundary is located where?
Immediately downstream of the leading edge.
What is the transition point?
Where the boundary layer changes from laminar to turbulent which is near the maximum point of thickness.
If the angle of attack increases what happens to the transition point?
Moves closer to the leading edge and the adverse pressure gradient becomes stronger. This moves the separation point forward.
How does the wing get a thrust effect?
Flow of the air is assisted by its movement by flowing from a high to low pressure.
What happens when the flow seperates?
Lift is reduced and pressure drag increases.
Are turbulent boundary layers more energetic then laminar?
Yes
Is flow separation more or less likely in a turbulent boundary layer?
Less likely as it is more resistive to the separation.
How is flow separation felt in light aircraft?
Buffeting with the control surfaces going light
In heavier aircraft how is the pilot warned of flow separation?
Stall warning devices.
What are the advantages of laminar flow?
Less surface friction giving lower fuel use etc.
What is the issue with laminar flow?
It is difficult to achieve at high speed and high angles of attack.
How is wing stall avoided in the design of commercial aircraft?
Deliberately cause turbulent flow over the rear part of the wing.
What is upwash?
The oncoming air flowing onto the upper surface due to the lower pressure.
What is the suction peak?
The large area above the wing where the accelerated flow around the leading edge sucks in the surrounding air.
What is downwash?
After passing over the wing the air returns to its normal state.
What is the bound vortex?
Circulation around the profile causes upwash on the LE and a downwash on the TE.
What do the gutters above the doors represent?
The upwash and downwash of the vortices.
What does the downwash do?
alter the flow direction and speed in the vicinity of the wing and tail surfaces.
What is induced drag?
Increase in angle of attack tips the total reaction force aft increasing in drag as well as lift.
What is induced alpha?
The angle between the effective airflow and relative airflow.
The stronger the vortices the….?
Stronger the induced drag.
How are vortices started?
The pressure differential between upper and lower surface aft of the wing/.
What is the chord line?
Straight line connecting the leading edge and trailing edge.
What is the chord?
The distance the chord line covers from LE to TE.
What is the mean camber line?
A line drawn equidistant from the upper and lower surfaces.
What is the camber of the profile?
The displacement between the mean camber line and the chord line.
How is the maximum camber expressed?
As a percentage of the chord.
When the camber line is above the chord line what is it said to have?
Positive camber
What does a typical low speed profile have as its maximum camber?
5% located aft 45% of the leading edge.
What is the fineness ratio?
Maximum thickness or depth of a section expressed as a percentage of the chord.
What is the fraction?
Maximum thickness of the profile