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Lecture 1

Arturo Rodriguez

Assistant Professor

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Texas A&M University – Kingsville

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Office: Engineering Complex 215

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Aerodynamics

  • Grading
    • Two Exams (Midterm | Oct 15th, 15% and Final, 15%)
    • Project:
      • (10% proposal presentation | Oct 22nd/Oct 24th and 10% final presentation | Dec 1st/Dec 3rd)
      • (10 % final report | Dec 6th)
    • In-class exercises, 20% (Please come to class and ask questions, every class)
    • Homework, 20% (Please work on them in groups of five, release a week in advance)
      • See Syllabus

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    • Are you available after class for student support hours? Yes

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  • Resources
    • Textbook: Fundamentals of Aerodynamics, John D. Anderson
    • Javelina Engineering Student Success Center
    • MIT OpenCourseWare Aerodynamics Course
    • MITx EdX Introduction to Aerodynamics Course
    • Aerodynamics (MIT 16.100) 2022 Lectures, Qiqi Wang

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Piazza

  • Please create an account in Piazza:

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https://piazza.com/tamuk/fall2025/meen4303

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Question?

  • Why do you want to study aerodynamics?

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Topics

  • Fundamental Concepts:
    • Applications of Aerodynamic Forces
    • Drag and Energy Consumption
    • Fluid Kinematics, Forces, and Conservation Laws
    • Non-dimensions and Sensitivity Analysis
    • Flow Regimes
  • Incompressible Potential Flow:
    • Lift-induced Drag
    • Aerodynamic Shape of Lift
    • Aerodynamic Stability
    • Potential Flow
    • Vorticity Dynamics

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Topics

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Aerodynamic Forces

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Titanic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4begc_U8ygI

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How do aero forces land a rocket?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21Ex4gfulpc&t=1s

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Atmospheric Re-Entry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX1LTw48ymQ&t=1s

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Top Gun Maverick: Aerothermodynamics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmzkizC6Rz4

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Top Gun Maverick: Aerodynamics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXbnzEHZDPg&t=1s

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Why does a Formula 1 racing car stay on the ground?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFEzMKYjShc

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Airfoil Physics | Cross-Section of a Wing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiOiVHUEYao

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How do you calculate Lift and Drag?

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Calculating Drag and Lift

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Drag and Lift Coefficients

 

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Cambered Airfoil

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Symmetric Airfoil, Question?

Zero angle of attack.

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Are you going to have any lift?

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Cambered Airfoil, Question?

Zero angle of attack.

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Are you going to have any lift?

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How to generate these airfoil shapes?

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How to generate these airfoil shapes?

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How to generate these airfoil shapes?

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How to generate these airfoil shapes?

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Let’s code in Python

Open Google Colab!

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Drone Aerodynamics

Modeling Aerodynamics of Airfoils at:

Ultra-Low Reynolds Numbers

NACA 4404

NACA 4402

NACA 0012

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Aerodynamics in Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) at�Ultra-Low Reynolds Numbers

  • MAV is a type of unmanned aerial vehicle that has a size restriction, and it can be as small as 5 cm

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Aerodynamics

  • Aerodynamics is the study of objects in motion throughout the air and the forces that change such motion.
  • It is composed of four forces: lift, weight, thrust, and drag.
  • When researching aerodynamic parameters of airfoils, we can find information on
    • Pressure distribution
      • Lift
      • Drag
      • Pitching Moment
  • Different airfoil shapes

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