Post on 27-Dec-2015
Aerodynamics
The field of science and engineering dealing with the effects of air moving around solid objects.
Aerodynamicists
Predict what will happen in a given situation using physical laws, math, wind-tunnels and computers
Air has mass and obeys Newton’s laws.
100 gallons of air has a mass of about 1 pound.
We must speed-up, slow-down, or change the direction of the air to generate a force.
Look for this in the following examples of aerodynamics…
Wind tunnels are used to predict the amount of force generated by solid objects.
This helps aerodynamicists choose the proper size for things such as wings, spoilers, and parachutes.
Information obtained in wind tunnels is used to improve the design of anything affected by wind.
Wind-Tunnels come in all shapes and sizes…
Similarity Principle
Allows us to test a small model and get information about the full-size object
We’ll use a parachute for example…
Similarity Principle:
For similar shapes, this ratio always comes out to the same number.
Weight
Density x Speed x Speed x Diameter x Diameter
Don’t worry, it’s just a FRACTION!!!
Density x Speed2 x Diameter2C =
Do a wind tunnel test to find out what “C” is for the parachute
Weight
All “known” in the wind tunnel!