Flight Vehicle Aerodynamics

This book offers a general overview of the physics, concepts, theories, and modelsunderlying the discipline of aerodynamics. A particular focus is the technique of velocity fieldrepresentation and modeling via source and vorticity fields and via their sheet, filament, orpoint-singularity idealizations. These models provide an intuitive feel for aerodynamic flow-fieldbehavior and are the basis of aerodynamic force analysis, drag decomposition, flow interferenceestimation, and other important applications. The models are applied to both low speed and highspeed flows. Viscous flows are also covered, with a focus on understanding boundary layer behaviorand its influence on aerodynamic flows. The book covers some topics in depth while offeringintroductions and summaries of others. Computational methods are indispensable for the practicingaerodynamicist, and the book covers several computational methods in detail, with a focus on vortexlattice and panel methods. The goal is to improve understanding of the physical models that underliesuch methods. The book also covers the aerodynamic models that describe the forces and moments onmaneuvering aircraft, and provides a good introduction to the concepts and methods used in flightdynamics. It also offers an introduction to unsteady flows and to the subject of wind tunnelmeasurements. The book is based on the MIT graduate-level course "Flight VehicleAerodynamics" and has been developed for use not only in conventional classrooms but also in amassive open online course (or MOOC) offered on the pioneering MOOC platform edX. It will also serveas a valuable reference for professionals in the field. The text assumes that the reader is wellversed in basic physics and vector calculus, has had some exposure to basic fluid dynamics andaerodynamics, and is somewhat familiar with aerodynamics and aeronautics terminology.