Course Description

Welcome to this advanced course in Aerodynamics, offered by the prestigious MITx. This comprehensive program delves deep into the fascinating world of aerodynamic flows, providing students with a robust understanding of the physics, concepts, theories, and models that form the backbone of this discipline. The course places a strong emphasis on velocity field representation and modeling techniques, utilizing source and vorticity fields, as well as their sheet, filament, or point-singularity idealizations.

What Students Will Learn

• Modeling and prediction of aerodynamic flows around wings and bodies
• Quantification of viscous boundary layers' role in drag production and lift limitation
• Optimization of lift distribution on aircraft wings
• Analysis of experimental flow survey data for profile drag determination
• Description of maneuvering aircraft motion and quantification of aerodynamic forces
• Prediction of airloads on unsteady airfoils
• Estimation of compressibility effects in high-speed aerodynamic flows

Prerequisites

• Basic mechanics
• Vector calculus
• Basic differential equations
• Good familiarity with fluid mechanics concepts (pressure, density, velocity, stress, etc.)
• Knowledge similar to the content in 16.101x (Introduction to Aerodynamics) is beneficial, though not mandatory

Course Coverage

• Velocity field representation and modeling techniques
• Source and vorticity fields
• Sheet, filament, and point-singularity idealizations
• Aerodynamic force analysis
• Drag decomposition
• Flow interference estimation
• Computational methods for insight into flow behavior
• Identification of primary aerodynamic forces on maneuvering aircraft
• Overview of flight dynamics

Target Audience

• Aerospace engineering students
• Mechanical engineering students with an interest in fluid dynamics
• Professionals in the aviation industry seeking to deepen their understanding of aerodynamics
• Researchers in fluid mechanics and related fields
• Anyone with a strong background in physics and mathematics who wants to explore advanced aerodynamics concepts

Real-World Applications

• Aircraft design and optimization
• Improvement of fuel efficiency in aviation
• Development of more effective wind turbines
• Enhanced performance in motorsports aerodynamics
• Advancement of drone technology
• Contribution to space exploration vehicle design
• Improved understanding of weather patterns and atmospheric phenomena

Course Structure

• Video lectures and worked problems available for viewing at any time
• Weekly homework assignments with due dates
• Two exams: one at the midpoint and one at the end of the course
• "Concept Questions" - simple, multiple-choice questions completed during lectures