Understanding Aerodynamics: Arguing From The Real Physics

Understanding Aerodynamics: Arguing from the Real Physics

Much-needed, fresh approach that brings a greater insight intothe physical understanding of aerodynamics

Based on the author’s decades of industrial experiencewith Boeing, this book helps students and practicing engineers togain a greater physical understanding of aerodynamics. Relying onclear physical arguments and examples, Mclean provides amuch-needed, fresh approach to this sometimes contentious subjectwithout shying away from addressing "real" aerodynamic situationsas opposed to the oversimplified ones frequently formathematical convenience. Motivated by the belief that engineeringpractice is enhanced in the long run by a robust understanding ofthe basics as well as real cause-and-effect relationships that liebehind the theory, he provides intuitive physical interpretationsand explanations, debunking commonly-held misconceptions andmisinterpretations, and building upon the contrasts provided bywrong explanations to strengthen understanding of the rightones.

• Provides a refreshing view of aerodynamics that is based on theauthor’s decades of industrial experience yet is alwaystied to basic fundamentals.
• Provides intuitive physical interpretations and explanations,debunking commonly-held misconceptions and misinterpretations
• Offers new insights to some familiar topics, for example, whatthe Biot-Savart law really means and why it causes so muchconfusion, what “Reynolds number” and“incompressible flow” really mean, and a real physicalexplanation for how an airfoil produces lift.
• Addresses "real" aerodynamic situations as opposed to theoversimplified ones frequently for mathematical convenience,and omits mathematical details whenever the physical understandingcan be conveyed without them.