Low-speed aerodynamics is important in the design and operation of aircraft flying at low Mach number, and ground and marine vehicles. This 2001 book offers a modern treatment of the subject, both the theory of inviscid, incompressible, and irrotational aerodynamics and the computational techniques now available to solve complex problems. A unique feature of the text is that the computational approach (from a single vortex element to a three-dimensional panel formulation) is interwoven throughout. Thus, the reader can learn about classical methods of the past, while also learning how to use numerical methods to solve real-world aerodynamic problems. This second edition has a new chapter on the laminar boundary layer (emphasis on the viscous-inviscid coupling), the latest versions of computational techniques, and additional coverage of interaction problems. It includes a systematic treatment of two-dimensional panel methods and a detailed presentation of computational techniques for three-dimensional and unsteady flows. With extensive illustrations and examples, this book will be useful for senior and beginning graduate-level courses, as well as a helpful reference tool for practising engineers.

Current interest in a variety of low Reynolds number applications has focused attention on the design and evaluation of efficient airfoil sections at chord Reynolds numbers from about 100,000 to about 1,000,000. These applications include remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) at high altitudes, sailplanes, ultra-light man-carrying/man powered aircraft, mini-RPVs at low altitudes and wind turbines/propellers. The purpose of this conference was to bring together those researchers who have been active in areas closely related to this subject. All of the papers presented are research type papers. Main topics are: Airfoil Design and Analysis, Computational Studies, Stability and Transition, Laminar Separation Bubble, Steady and Unsteady Wind Tunnel Experiments and Flight Experiments.

Airfoils are the basic elements from which aircraft wings are designed. Their properties help determine the properties of the wing so designed by the use of the airfoil shape. Though there are a large number of available airfoils for various applications, this study aims to produce an airfoil giving higher lift characteristics at low speeds compared to the most commonly used airfoil for these applications. This is done by combining the desired characteristics of higher lift airfoils with the ones which have higher stall angles at low speeds from the NACA series of airfoils.Thus, effectively giving a more efficient airfoil for low speed applications over a larger angle of attack range. The airfoil so designed is compared with the benchmark airfoil through simulations to evaluate the lift and the drag of the airfoils using XFOIL.

Wind tunnel tests were conducted to determine the low speed two dimensional aerodynamic characteristics of a 17 percent thick medium speed airfoil (MS(1)-0317) designed for general aviation applications. The results were compared with data for the 17 percent thick low speed airfoil (LS(1)-0417) and the 13 percent thick medium speed airfoil (MS(1)-0313). Theoretical predictions of the drag rise characteristics of this airfoil are also provided. The tests were conducted in the Langley low turbulence pressure tunnel over a Mach number range from 0.10 to 0.32, a chord Reynolds number range from 2 million to 12 million, and an angle of attack range from about -8 to 20 deg.

This book reports the latest development and trends in the low Re number aerodynamics, transition from laminar to turbulence, unsteady low Reynolds number flows, experimental studies, numerical transition modelling, control of low Re number flows, and MAV wing aerodynamics. The contributors to each chapter are fluid mechanics and aerodynamics scientists and engineers with strong expertise in their respective fields. As a whole, the studies presented here reveal important new directions toward the realization of applications of MAV and wind turbine blades.

Concise compilation of subsonic aerodynamic characteristics of NACA wing sections, plus description of theory. 350 pages of tables.