Incompressible flow – Example sheet 1

1.
P = ρRT a = γRT R = 287 m 2 / s 2 K

N
R
L C N = 1 .2
α
C A = 0.03

α = 12°
α α D
A
U∞

From resolving the forces we have the following:

L = N cos α − A sin α ⇒ D = N sin α + A cos α ⇒

C L = C N cos α − C A sin α ⇒ CD = C sin α + C cos α
N A ⇒
C L = 1.2 cos 12 − 0.03 sin 12 ⇒ CD = 1.2 sin 12 + 0.03 cos 12 ⇒
C L = 1.2 × 0.978 − 0.03 × 0.208 = 1.168 C D = 1.2 × 0.208 + 0.03 × 0.978 = 0.279

dC L
a=
dα

CL

1.168

dC L
= 5.58 ≠ 2π
For symmetrical aerofoil dα

12 α

Don’t forget to convert the angle into radians when calculating the gradient
The real curve may not be linear, due to three dimensional effects.

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 Incompressible flow – Example sheet 1

2.
Plot CM(C/4) Vs CL

c
M ' LE + L ′ = M ′c
4 4

M ' LE + x cp cL ′ = M cp
′ =0

Subtracting second from the one;

c
L ′( − cx cp ) = M ′c dividing by q∞ Sc
4 4

c L (0.25 − x cp ) = c M c rearranging
4

cM c
x cp = 0.25 − 4
cL

α CL CM(0.25)c xcp
-2 0.05 -0.042 1.09
0 0.25 -0.040 0.41
2.0 0.44 -0.038 0.336
4.0 0.64 -0.036 0.306
6.0 0.85 -0.036 0.292
8.0 1.08 -0.036 0.283
10.0 1.26 -0.034 0.277
12.0 1.43 -0.030 0.271
14.0 1.56 -0.025 0.266

L’

M’c/4

ac

c/4

cxac

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 Incompressible flow – Example sheet 1

For most conventional airfoils, the aerodynamic centre is close to, but not necessarily
exactly at, the quarter-chord point.

′ = L ′(cx ac − c / 4) + M c′ / 4
M ac

Dividing by q ∞ Sc , we have
M ac′ L′ M′
= ( x ac − 0.25) + c / 4
q ∞ Sc q ∞ S q ∞ Sc

Or
c m , ac = c l ( x ac − 0.25) + c m ,c / 4

Differentiating with respect to angle of attack α , we have

dc m , ac dc l dc m ,c / 4
= ( x ac − 0.25) +
dα dα dα
dc m, ac
However is zero by definition of the aerodynamic centre (Pitching moment is
dα
constant with incidence, hence the derivative is zero).
dc dc m ,c / 4
0 = l ( x ac − 0.25) +
dα dα

For airfoils below the stalling angle of attack, the slope of the lift coefficient is
constant and also the variation in the second term is negligible compared to the slope
of lift curve.

Designating these slopes by

dc l dc m ,c / 4
≡a; ≈0
dα dα

We arrive at the following;

0 = a ( x ac − 0.25) + 0

x ac = 0.25

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 Incompressible flow – Example sheet 1

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8
-0.005

-0.01

-0.015

-0.02
Cmc/4

-0.025

-0.03

-0.035

-0.04

-0.045
cl

1.2

0.8
Xcp

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
aoa(degrees)

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 Incompressible flow – Example sheet 1

3.
For dynamic similarity we must satisfy three criterions:

1. Same Mach number

2. Same Reynolds number
3. Geometric similarity

For aerofoil (1) we have the following data:

T ∞ = 200 o K V ∞ = 100 m / s ρ ∞ = 1.23kg / m 3

For aerofoil (2) we have the given values:

T∞ = 800 o K V ∞ = 200 m / s ρ ∞ = 0.615 kg / m 3

Assume that µ ∝ T 2

1
µ2 T2
Since µ ∝ T 2 we have that: =
µ1 T1

V1
By definition M 1 = a1 = γRT1
a1

V2
M2 = a 2 = γRT 2
a2

Where a1 and a2 are the speed of sound for the two different aerofoils.

V1 V1
M1 =

⇒
γRT1 γRT1 V1 T2
M1 100 800 2
= = = = =1
M2 V2 V 2 T1 200 200 2
V2
M2 = γRT 2
γRT 2

∴ M 1 = M 2 i.e. the Mach numbers are the same so we have so far satisfied the first
condition for dynamic similarity.
Now moving on to explore the Reynolds numbers

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 Incompressible flow – Example sheet 1

By definition we have:

ρ1V1c1 ρ 1V1 c1
Re 1 =
µ1
⇒ Re 1
Re 2
=
µ1 µ ρVc
= 2 1 1 1
ρ 2 V 2 c 2 µ 1 ρ 2V 2 c 2
ρ 2V 2 c 2 µ2
Re 2 =
µ2

T2 ρ 1 V1 c1 800 1.23 100 1 2 × 2 1

= = =1
T1 ρ 2 V 2 2c1 200 0.615 200 2 2 2

∴ Reynolds numbers are the same

Since the bodies are geometrically similar and the M∞ and Re are the same, we have
satisfied all the criterions, hence the two flows are dynamically similar.

4.
(1) (2)

h = 10 km 1/5th scale model

3
P2 = 1.01 × 10 5 N / m 2
ρ1 = 0.414 km / m
V2 = ?
T1 = 223 o K
T2 = ?
V 1 = 250 m / s ρ2 = ?

Need the Re number and M number doubled. Also µ ∝ T 1 / 2

Re 1 = 2 Re 2 c1 c
= 5 ⇒ c2 = 1
c2 5
M 1 = 2M 2

ρ 1V1 c1 ρ 2V 2 c 2
=2
T1 T2

 ρ1   T1   V 2  c 2 
  = 2  
 ρ2  
  2   V1  c1
T 

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 Incompressible flow – Example sheet 1

V1 V V1 V2 V2 T2
M 1 = 2M 2 ⇒ =2 2 ⇒ =2 ⇒ =
a1 a2 γRT1 γRT 2 V1 2 T1

ρ   T1   T 2  1  ρ1 1
∴  1  = 2  ⇒ =
 ρ2   T 2   2 T1  5  ρ2 5

∴ ρ 2 = 5 ρ 1 = 5 × 0.414 = 2.07 kg / m 3

P2 = ρ 2 RT 2 ⇒ T2 = P2 / ρ 2 R

T2 = 170 .56 K (= -102.6 C, Cryogenic tunnel required)

V2 T2 170 .56
= = = 0.437 ⇒ V 2 = 109 .32 m / s
V1 2 T1 2 223

5.
The zeppelin is a symmetric wing.

V = 15000 m 3
d max = 14 m
V ∞ = 30 m / s
ρ ∞ = 0.9 kg / m 3
C L = 0.05

L π 2
CL = Where S = πr 2 = d max
1
2
ρ ∞V∞2 S 4

⇒ L = 3117 N

Because we have a free stream velocity we have lift but if it was not moving then it
would float due to the effect of buoyancy.

Buoyancy force = weight of displaced air

Fb = g ρV

Fb = 9.81 × 15000 × 0.9 = 132435 N

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 Incompressible flow – Example sheet 1

Weight = Lift + BuoyancyFo rce Top View of the

Zeppelin
= 3117 + 132435 = 135552 N

⇒ W / g = 13 .8tonnes

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