Compressible Fluid Flow

Catalog description

We explore the fluid mechanics of aerospace and energy systems in this course. Aerospace fluid dynamics are dynamics of flows involving air. Such flows have variable density over space and time. They can expand to take the shape of their volume or be compressed into an enclosing, confined space. These flows surround (air), inflate (air in lungs), compress (impact), hold/push (drag/thrust), and levitate (flight) us. We investigate flows to design and take advantage of their behavior for engineering solutions (e.g., extracting energy). You will learn to identify a fluid and develop the mathematical framework (differential equations) that describe compressible flow motion/dynamics. We study fundamental thin airfoil, wing, and boundary layer theory. We will consider extracting energy from air flows using wind turbines. We conclude by surveying advanced topics involving supersonics, hypersonics, and space propulsion.