Tools of Aeronautics

Tools of Aeronautics
Four tools test aeronautics hypotheses
Wind tunnel testing
Computational fluid dynamics
Flight simulation
Flight test

Testing tools were developed only within

the last 100 years

Wind Tunnel
First tool to be developed
Used since the time of the Wright brothers
Moves wind past a stationary object
instead of moving the object through the
air
Advantages
Safer
Cheaper
Controlled environment

Wind Tunnel
Disadvantages
Creation of wind tunnel airflow requires a lot
of energy.
Maintenance of machinery, equipment, and
tunnels is expensive.
Airplane models must be made with precision
and durability, which requires time and
money.

Computational Fluid Dynamics

Idea conceived in the 1960s
to run wind tunnel tests in a
computer
Initial computers were large,
slow, and cumbersome
Computers were able to
accurately predict forces and
pressures

Computers were able to

graphically display fluid
forces on an object

Navier-Stokes Equations

Arent you glad we have computers that

perform these computations for us?

Computational Fluid Dynamics

Computational Fluid Dynamics

Computational Fluid Dynamics

Many models are so
complex that hours are
needed, even with todays
computers, to analyze the data.
Graphics present an incredibly large
amount of complex information in a
manner that enables researchers to
quickly and accurately draw conclusions
from their data.

Flight Simulation

Two Primary uses of flight simulation

Training

Research

Flight Simulation
How Does It Work?
Similar to CFD, a math model of the test
plane is programmed into a computer.
The computer controls a cockpit mock-up
designed to look like the interior of an
airplane.
A motion system simulates the movements of
an airplane.
Computers create scenery for the pilot.
Sound systems and instruments work
together to provide the pilot with an extremely
realistic flying environment.

Flight Test
Final phase of flight
development
Flight testing verifies predictions made in
prior phases of flight development
Based on the results of a flight test, an
airplane may be tested further using one
of the other three tools, or more flight tests
may be recommended.

Image Resources
Microsoft, Inc. (2008). Clip art. Retrieved September 10, 2008, from
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (2008). NASA Dryden
flight simulator photo collection. Retrieved June 24, 2009, from
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/Simulator/index.html
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (2008). Navier Stokes
equations. Retrieved June 24, 2009, from http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K12/airplane/nseqs.html
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (2009). NAS software
applications. Retrieved June 24, 2009, from
http://www.nas.nasa.gov/Resources/Applications/applications.html
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (2009). Computational
fluid dynamics. Retrieved June 24, 2009, from
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/X-43A/HTML/ED97-43968-1.html