Fluid Mechanics: Analysis of Airfoils, Wings, and Technologies

This report provides an overview of fluid mechanics principles, focusing on the application of these principles to aircraft design and performance. The report begins with an examination of thin airfoils, explaining their role in generating lift and drag. It then delves into the characteristics of forward-swept wings, low-aspect-ratio wings, and vortex generators, discussing their impact on aircraft aerodynamics. The report further explores supercritical and area-rule technologies, explaining their significance in optimizing airflow and reducing drag, particularly in transonic flight conditions. The document incorporates diagrams and equations to illustrate key concepts and concludes with a bibliography of relevant sources.

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FLUID MECHANICS
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The Use of thin airfoils is actually very important in the operation of the aircraft especially during the
uplifting of the aircraft. And this thin airfoil is illustrated in the following diagram;
Fig 1: Showing a thin airfoil. (Corda 2017)
The movement of this airfoil results to the production of the aerodynamic force and the
component of this force orthogonal to the motion due to it is referred as a lift of the aircraft1.
And the module which is parallel to the direction of the motion is referred to as the drag. The
subsonic flight of the airfoil has a characteristic shape with a rounded leading edge. These thin
airfoils help in the movement of the aircraft upward into what is known as a lift of the aircraft.
A forward-swept wing is an airplane configuration of the wing where the quarter-chord line of
the wing contains a forward sweep. Stereotypically, the foremost edge will as well sweeps forward. The
sweep of the wings forward can be illustrated using the following diagram;
Fig 2: Showing the sweep of the wings forward. (Dingle 2013)
1 Corda, Introduction to Aerospace Engineering with a Flight Test Perspective. 89

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This sweep back is basically very crucial at low velocity and low altitude. Since there are
different kinds of the sweep back regarding the shape of the wings and this satisfies the regular
necessity of aviation than the whole aerospace2. Sweep forward wing deals with the sonic boom
quite perfectly. Forward swept wings give reduction vital drag in the transonic range of speed. Because
air moves inboard on forwarding swept wings, dissimilar to the outboard movement on. The sweep
wings always help the aircraft to appear very thin in the air and at the same time, it helps the
aircraft to move at a very high speed while it is in the air.
Low-aspect-ratio wing
This is the ratio of the wings´ length to the wings´ width is called aspect ratio. A low aspect ratio shows a
short, wide wings. This can be illustrated using the following mathematical equations
Aspect ratio = wing length(m)
wing width(m) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….1
Therefore to achieve a low aspect ratio the wing length should be small with the wing width being
relative big as seen in the figure below;
2 Dingle, Aircraft Engineering Principles,120.

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Fig 3: Showing the different aspect ratios (Dingle 2013)
For a low aspect ratio it has the following characteristics;
Higher fuel consumption:
For this, the aircraft will move at a lower speed unless the aircraft has an additional power to
help counteract the drag hence more fuel are needed.

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VORTEX GENERATOR
This is an aerodynamic component, entailing of a minor vane typically coupled to a surface of lifting or a
blade rotor for the wind turbine. It may as well be coupled to some areas of an aerodynamic car like an
aircraft fuselage3. The vortex Generator is illustrated in the diagram below;
Fig 4: Showing the diagram of the Vortex Generator. (James 2012)
Removal of the boundary layer is suctioning of pressure and opening where there is a flow of mass via
the slot and the successive advancement of the boundary layer.
Supercritical and area-rule technology
A supercritical fluid is that stuff at a temperature and pressure beyond the critical point of the aircraft, in
which distinct liquid and gas phases do not occur4. While the area rule is the result of a sequence of
3 James, Introduction To Flight 6E (Sie). 49
4 Senson, Aerospace Engineering, 79

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experiments done by Dr. Whitcomb, that was (and now) the most instinctive approach to one of the
puzzling problems in the area of aerodynamics. This can be illustrated by the following diagram
Fig 4: Showing an area rule technology. (Senson 2012)
In the aviation, when the airspeed is near a range of the transonic, the local airflow near some parts of
the aircraft, usually in the upper surface of the wings of the aircraft, will tend to attain Mach 1 very
easily.
Bibliography
Corda, Stephen. Introduction to Aerospace Engineering with a Flight Test Perspective. London: John
Wiley & Sons, 2017.
Dingle, Lloyd. Aircraft Engineering Principles. Chicago: Routledge, 2013.

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James, Anderson. Introduction To Flight 6E (Sie). New Delhi: McGraw-Hill Education, 2012.
Senson, Ben. Aerospace Engineering: From the Ground Up. Hull: Cengage Learning, 2012