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Aerodynamics II Unit 3 Notes (Part 1

The document summarizes several aerodynamic concepts: 1) Simplified horseshoe vortex model, formation flight, influence of downwash on tail plane, and ground effects are applications of finite wing theory. 2) Slender body theory is introduced for analyzing subsonic flow past axially symmetric bodies like cylinders and cones. 3) In formation flight, each aircraft flies in an upwash region induced by the other aircraft, reducing induced drag and trailing vortex drag and improving aerodynamic efficiency.

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anirudh p
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276 views

Aerodynamics II Unit 3 Notes (Part 1

The document summarizes several aerodynamic concepts: 1) Simplified horseshoe vortex model, formation flight, influence of downwash on tail plane, and ground effects are applications of finite wing theory. 2) Slender body theory is introduced for analyzing subsonic flow past axially symmetric bodies like cylinders and cones. 3) In formation flight, each aircraft flies in an upwash region induced by the other aircraft, reducing induced drag and trailing vortex drag and improving aerodynamic efficiency.

Uploaded by

anirudh p
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Aerodynamics 2

18AE52
UNIT III
Applications of Finite Wing Theory: Simplified horse-shoe vortex model, formation
flight, influence of downwash on tail plane, ground effects.
Bodies of Revolution: Introduction to slender body theory, cylindrical coordinates,
boundary conditions, pressure coefficient, Subsonic flow past an axially symmetric
body at zero incidence and solution for a slender cone.

Faculty Name: Siddalingappa PK, Asst Prof, Dept of Aeronautical Engineering, NMIT Bengaluru
Simplified Horseshoe Vortex
The general vortex system and this simplified equivalent vortex must have two
things in common:
• Each must provide the same total lift.
• Each must have the same value of circulation about the trailing vortices and
hence the same total lift.
For the elliptical lift distribution

The total lift is given by

Use the transformation and When y= b/2, θ = 0 and y= - b/2, θ = π

Also Lift for SHSV per unit span can be given as

Total lift
Formation Flight
Formation Flying: multiple wings/airplane fly in close lateral proximity to one another

Benefits: The improved aerodynamic efficiency because of reduction in induced drag


Consider the three identical aircraft are flying in a vee formation at a forward speed V in the same horizontal
plane.
The total mutual interference is the sum of
(1) interference of the followers on the leader (plane 1),
(2) interference of the leader and follower (plane 2) on (3)
(3) interference of leader and follower (plane 3) on (plane 2).

Interferences (1) and (2) are identical.


The leader is flying in a flow region that has additional vertical flow components induced by
• Upward components appear from the bound vortices a2c2 and a3c3, trailing vortices c2d2 and a3b3,
• Downward components from the trailing vortices a2b2 and c3d3.
The net result is an upwash on the leader.

The follower aircrafts have additional influences to their own trails from the leader and the other
follower.
• Bound vortex a1c1 and trailing vortices a1b1 and a2b2 produce downwashes.
Again, the net influence is an upwash.
Conclusion: it appears that each aircraft is flying in a region in which upward components are induced
by the presence of the other aircraft.
The upwash components reduce the downward velocities induced by the aircraft’s own trail and hence
its trailing vortex drag.
Because of the drag reduction, less power is required to maintain forward velocity

“Each aircraft in a formation performs better than when flying singly”


Influence of Downwash on the Tail-plane

The tail's angle of attack increases due to the increased wing downwash
Let the tailplane of an aircraft be at distance x behind the wing center of pressure and in the plane of the
vortex trail
Assuming elliptic distribution and the sub-span horseshoe vortex method, the span of the bound vortex is
given by
Using a special form of the Biot-Savart equations the downwash at P is,

Downwash caused by the bound vortex ac

Here, α = 90 – β = β’ and h = x
Downwash of each of the trailing vortices ab and cd

Here, α = 0, β = β’ and h = s’/2

The downwash at the mid-span point P of the tailplane


Equation for the downwash at the tailplane
Ground Effects
The study of Kinematics of the aircraft, when flying in close proximity to the ground.
Ground Effect can be studied by considering a horse shoe vortex, below the ground with equal
strength and opposite in the sense of HSV of the aircraft.

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