Essays on Aerodynamics

Abstract

The understanding of the performance of an aircraft is one of the most important issues that many stakeholders in the aviation sector aspire to understand comprehensively. A significant number of aircrafts experience challenges in the process of take-offs or when they are landing. However, through research, engineers have discovered that the climb performance of many aircrafts is affected by several factors including incidences of collision with various obstacles. It is also crucial to acknowledge that an aircraft is characterized by performances in different speed conditions. Through the performance at each speed condition, engineers are able to predict that manner ...

Introduction

For the specification of the control of an aircraft, other parameters and equipment’s other than the basic aircraft control are required. This is because there are various dynamic performance criteria that need to be factored in the aircraft control system design. The basic aircraft system requires a navigation and control so that it works efficiently. The basic structure of the aircraft system is identified as below with the various parts performing various functions:

Aircraft system block diagram

The stability augmentation and transient response improvement are provided by the estimation control of the linear feedback block of the system. The forward loop provides ...

I attended SAE Formula sessions which usually takes place on Wednesdays 4 pm where I learned quite a number of practical lessons. The first session took place on Week 3, 28 Jan 2015. We learned about the chassis. The design problem faced were that the main roll hoop was not rule compliant while the new one ordered was expected to arrive Jan-29th. Meanwhile we decided to tack the new role hoop onto the chassis and begin assembling the suspension components for rolling chassis. On the suspension part we realized that the silver horse was not matching with the piece ...

Introduction

Globally, the automotive industry is possibly the most complex and largest undertaking in industrial history. The complexity of its production has resulted to cars whose main concern was the right price, performance, reliability, safety, market attraction and emission hence ignoring other major concerns like energy security and climate protection (Lovins & Cramer, 2004). Regular (conventional) cars use petroleum products (petrol and diesel) as fuel. (50by50 campaign) research showed that light duty vehicles are expected to triple by 2050. This translates to increased prices, environmental pollution, energy crises, reductions of oil reserves and eventually global warming. These has necessitated the need ...

The transport industry, especially the trucking sector, has experienced and would continue to experience changes given the current economic climate. Economic uncertainty has brought about waves of speculation that have ultimately led to the drastic rise in fuel prices. The trucking industry has felt the direct effects of the ever-changing fuel market much more than any other industry in the United States (EPA, 2014). The rising fuel price has led to key industry players to devise ways of combating the problem. In coming up with ways of cutting the operational costs, the environment should also be put into consideration. ...

The time has come that the technical problems facing the old design of Airship with Helical Vertical Axis for Wind Turbine (Eagle 14) at High Altitude shall be replaced with a new one that meets engineering standards in order to work more efficiently. A team will handle the proposed project based on a research plan made by the members. The project is expected to produce good results because the team will assign a principal investigator or PI who has a wide experience and record of achievements in the fields of experimental and quantitative design of Airborne Wind Turbine at high altitude. This research ...

Man has long desired to conquer the skies due to his incapacity to take flight like birds and reach unimaginable speeds possible while in flight. This desire had led man to creating machines that mimicked flight, leading to the development of aviation and air transportation. With human flight now made possible through aviation, the desire to reach the speed that exceeds the speed of sound had fueled research even further to understand how it could be attained through aircrafts, automobiles and artillery. For years, several attempts have been done to reach this speed of sound or break the so-called “ ...

1.0 Introduction Many sports played across the world that involves throwing, hitting and kicking are done so using a ball. However, many parameters such as humidity, materials of manufacture of the ball, size of the ball, etc. control the movement of the ball in air. Research on golf balls and tennis balls reveal their aerodynamic properties and the various parameters affecting their flight. The effect of seams on a baseball on the flight has been evaluated along with the relationship between rotation and lateral forces (Watts & Sawyer 1987). Similar studies have also been conducted on cricket balls, rugby balls, volleyballs ...

Introduction

A wind turbine is a device that uses the kinetic energy derived from wind to create mechanical energy. This simply means the wind’s force pushes the blade into motion. Different wind turbines have different ways of extracting wind energy like most machines. Aerodynamics, on the other hand, simply refers to the flow of air about a body. This makes aerodynamics to be a critical aspect of wind turbines as this flow of air about the turbines is what determines its power output. This paper focuses on the aerodynamic behavior of wind turbines (Hansen 21). Calculation of forces acting on a body ...

Introduction

Aeronautical Science deals with the development of different aspects of aircraft. The study is in relation to the various aspects that can be accrued to aircrafts, which ranges from the system to its maintenance. The field is big and is coupled with a vast number of careers that are directed towards the design and maintenance of aircraft systems. In the understanding of these systems, the professionals are usually required to have knowledge in aerodynamics, which enables them to understand the aspects of air affects the systems and be better placed for maintenance. The field of Aeronautical Science is broad and ...

Introduction

Mechanics is a branch of physical science that deals with moving and stationary bodies influenced by forces. It is divided into two branches called dynamics and statics. Dynamics deals with moving bodies while statics deals resting bodies Mechanics also has a subcategory called fluid mechanics. Fluid mechanics is the science concerning the behavior of fluids. It could be fluid statics when it tackles about the body at rest. On the other hand, it could be fluid dynamics when the fluid body being studied is in motion. Fluid mechanics is a study regarding the behavior of material that can bend and ...

Introduction

The Great Belt Fixed Link (Storebæltforbindelsen) is the fixed link connecting the islands of Zealand and Funen across the strait of Great Belt. The link is composed of three mega structures: a road suspension bridge (known as the East Bridge), a railway between Zealand and Sprogø, and a box girder bridge (known as the West Bridge) between Sprogø and Funen (Railway-Technology, n.d.). The link was purposely designed to replace the primary means of crossing the Great Belt (Transportation Research Board, 1995). Combined purpose and aesthetic perfection, this majestic link exhibits eccentric engineering skills and craftsmanship, a true man-made wonder. Figure 1. ...

Abstract

Motorsports or motorsport which involves motorized vehicles is considered fun on wheels. However, the sport is more than meets the eye. Motorsport and hill climbing are the riskiest pursuits, and require the highest degree of courage and conviction to pursue this sport. This paper defined and described motorsports, and dwelled at length on the developmental history of motorsports, particularly auto racing or car racing. Starting from the manufacture of the first gasoline-fueled automobiles, and first organized contest on 28th April 1887, every stage of development such as the period up to 1950, and thereafter till date has been included. ...

Jim Hall, my host at the Chaparral Cars Facility, graced the races for the last time in the mid-1990s and, in 1999, to honor his achievement alongside others in the Chaparral facility, a wing was added to the Petroleum Museum in Midland (Wikipedia). This was meant to be the permanent home to the Chaparral legend. I had the privilege of visiting this museum last year, and was enthralled by what it has to offer. In the Chaparral Gallery, I encountered six of the seven existing Chaparrals; (1) the Chaparral 2 USRRC racer, (2) 2D endurance racer, (3) 2E Can-Am car, ( ...

My evaluation is on cars. My criteria will involve the exterior, interior, style, driving pleasure and Mileage per Gallon (MPG). These criteria I have mentioned are all linked in that cars need specific designs or shapes like aerodynamics. Aerodynamics is a criterion which reduces noise, drag and stability. Aerodynamics also involves doubles safety, airbags, sensors and even cameras. This criterion is one of the most significant as far as vehicles are concerned. Next, the evaluation of the interior will involve examining the special features like comfortable seats with heating and cooling systems. The quality of material used also falls in ...

In aeronautics, the static stability of an aircraft is highly dependent on the neutral point and the center of gravity of the craft. The general concept of moments is applied since the tippling off of the craft usually applies the principle of moments (free-online-private-pilot-ground-school.com). The center of gravity has the greatest effect on the flight of any aircraft including missiles. The main aspect to consider in any case is the distance between the neutral point of aircraft and its neutral point and the distance between the missile centre of gravity and its neutral pressure point (free-online-private-pilot-ground-school.com). This shows ...

The dream of achieving a vertical flight has always been with Igor Sikorsky, a Russian-born aeronautical engineer for years before managing to develop the first machine that was associated with all we called helicopter today. He actually made several attempts until the dream was achieved. Some of his important failures regarding the building of helicopter is that of Circa that was built in 1910. The dream of eventually being carried into the air vertically came true eight years after submitting a patent for a modern looking helicopter in 1931. The first practical helicopter was the VS-300 that lifted him up. He never ...

Introduction

The beginning of the concept of aviation began in Chinese in the fourth century A.D. In 400 B.C a toy that consisted of feathers at the end of a stick was spun between the hands to generate a lift and after its release it provided a free flight, It is assumed that those who build the toys were inspired by the auto rotating nature of seeds from trees such as Sycamore. 1

In the year 1480, Leonard da Vinci discovered that a screw shaped device well made from a starched linen can rise in air if turned quickly.

Biography of Leonard da Vinci

He was born on April ...