Wing Aerodynamics

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Structure of turbulent boundary layers.
• eN method of transition prediction
• Potential flow over aerofoils and wings, including slender wings.
• The key assumptions of potential flow and boundary layer theory.
• Exact laminar boundary layer solutions.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Communicate work in written reports.
• Study and learn independently.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Explain how panel methods are constructed.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Check the accuracy of grids for CFD of wings.
• Analyse aerofoil flows using VII codes such as XFoil.

Coursework (e.g. CFD of nozzle flow exercise) and examples sheets

Introduction

• Review of aerofoil and wing flow regimes, force and moment coefficients.

Viscous flow analysis

• Newtonian fluid. The Navier-Stokes equations for incompressible flow. Vorticity dynamics. Decomposition of flows into potential and rotational regions. Viscous-inviscid interaction. XFoil. Introduction to high lift airfoils.

Calculation of potential flow around aerofoils and wings

• Recap of main results for potential flow. Lumped vortex method for thin aerofoils. Source, vortex and doublet panels. Outline of a full panel method for 2D aerofoils. Applications of the complex potential.

Slender wing theory including comparisons with real flow over a slender delta wing. Vortex lattice method for wings. Effects of seep, taper, twist.

Laminar boundary layer theory

• Order of magnitude analysis leading to the boundary layer equations. Pohlhausen’s profiles with pressure gradient parameter. Boundary layer separation Falkner-Skan solutions of the boundary layer equations. Numerical solution of boundary layer equations. Momentum integral equation (MIE). Deductions based on MIE. Thwaites' integral method with examples.

Transition to turbulence

• Phenomenology of transition to turbulence with an overview of prediction methods based on stability theory. Natural laminar flow and laminar flow control. Swept wing transition.

Turbulence and numerical modelling

• Characteristics of turbulent flow. Dimensional analysis leading to Kolmogorov energy spectrum. Mean flow structure of a turbulent boundary layer. Mixing length and eddy viscosity modelling. Outline of turbulence prediction methods. Drag reduction techniques.

Revision

Coursework (e.g. Solution of laminar BLE, XFoil or CFD exercise for flow over aerofoil) and examples sheets.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

Lectures (3 per week).

Supporting material on Blackboard.

Assessment strategy

Can be repeated externally (100% exam) or internally.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External