Foundations of Aerodynamics

This chapter explores many aspects of aerodynamics and the fundamental properties of a fluid. These properties may be separated into thermodynamic, kinematic, or transport properties. The chapter defines several categories of aerodynamic flows, and describes their dominant physics or characteristics. It introduces several nondimensional parameters that are important in fluid dynamics and heat transfer. Most of the parameters that are introduced are known as similarity parameters that may be used to compare the flows over different-sized bodies, based on similarities in their geometries or flow physics. The first two similarity parameters are the Mach number and the Reynolds number that are perhaps the most important in aerodynamics. The chapter also introduces the concept of entropy, which is essential in understanding the laws of thermodynamics. It derives the three fundamental equations of fluid motion such as the continuity, momentum, and energy equations.