AE 301 – Aerodynamics I – Spring 2015

Problem Set 6
Assigned: Friday, February 27, 2015
Due: Friday, March 6, 2015

1. (5 pts) Show how to find the velocity potential for a lifting circular cylinder in a uniform
flow of velocity V∞ with circulation Γ. Find the velocity components in this flow field
and on the surface of the cylinder. Determine for what values of the circulation will
the stagnation point be located: (a) on the surface of the cylinder, (b) off the surface
of the cylinder. Comment on your observations.

2. (5 pts) The flow over a spinning baseball is to be modeled approximately as a 2-d

dimensional flow over a spinning cylinder cylinder. Determine the lift coefficient of the
spinning baseball in terms of the forward velocity V∞ and the angular velocity of the
spin (i.e., the rpm), and plot a graph of the result. Use the result to help explain why
it is possible to curve the path of a spinning baseball versus one without spin. To get
the most significant curved path, is it best to spin the baseball fast and throw it at low
speed versus give it a low spin rate and throw it slowly?

3. (5 pts) The Flettner Rotor Ship was designed with two rotating cylinders instead of
sails. Each cylinder was 10 ft in diameter and 50 ft high and was driven by two 15 hp
electric motors. The rotors turned at a top speed of 125 rpm. Explain how this concept
would have worked, and estimate the range of forces involved at typical sailing speeds.
4. (5 pts) Write a program in Matlab or use a spreadsheet to plot the geometry of the
NACA four-digit airfoil sections (look up the equations in the Abbott & Von Doenhoff
reference). In particular, plot carefully the shape of the NACA 0018 airfoil section.
Using an enlarged plot, clearly show the location of the nose radius and how it is faired
into the lower and upper surfaces.

5. (5 pts) Write a program in Matlab or use a spreadsheet plot the the NACA 230
camberline and then construct the coordinates of the NACA 23018 airfoil section.
Clearly show the construction of the nose radius relative to the camberline and in
relation to the lower and upper surfaces of the airfoil, and show how the nose radius
actually protrudes very slightly forward of x/c = 0.