High Reynolds Number Flows

Catalog description

You will explore the fluid mechanics of aerospace and energy systems. Aerospace fluid dynamics are the dynamics of flows involving air. Such flows have a variable density over space and time. They can expand to take the shape of volume or be compressed into a confined space. These flows surround (air), inflate (air in lungs), compress (impact), hold/push (drag/thrust), and levitate (flight). Investigate flows to design and take advantage of their behavior for engineering solutions (e.g., extracting energy). Learn to identify a fluid and develop the framework (differential equations) describing compressible flow motion/dynamics. Study fundamental thin airfoil, wing, and boundary layer theory. Consider extracting energy from air flows using wind turbines. Solve the Euler equations using analysis and numerical methods. The course concludes by surveying advanced topics involving supersonics, hypersonics, and space propulsion. Prerequisites: ENGN 0720 and ENGN 0810 .