Understanding Aerodynamics: Arguing from the Real Physics (Aerospace Series) 1st Edition by Doug McLean (PDF)

Description

Much-needed, fresh approach that brings a greater insight into the physical understanding of aerodynamicsBased on the author’s decades of industrial experience with Boeing, this book helps students and practicing engineers to gain a greater physical understanding of aerodynamics. Relying on clear physical arguments and examples, Mclean provides a much-needed, fresh approach to this sometimes contentious subject without shying away from addressing “real” aerodynamic situations as opposed to the oversimplified ones frequently used for mathematical convenience. Motivated by the belief that engineering practice is enhanced in the long run by a robust understanding of the basics as well as real cause-and-effect relationships that lie behind the theory, he provides intuitive physical interpretations and explanations, debunking commonly-held misconceptions and misinterpretations, and building upon the contrasts provided by wrong explanations to strengthen understanding of the right ones.Provides a refreshing view of aerodynamics that is based on the author’s decades of industrial experience yet is always tied to basic fundamentals.Provides intuitive physical interpretations and explanations, debunking commonly-held misconceptions and misinterpretationsOffers new insights to some familiar topics, for example, what the Biot-Savart law really means and why it causes so much confusion, what “Reynolds number” and “incompressible flow” really mean, and a real physical explanation for how an airfoil produces lift.Addresses “real” aerodynamic situations as opposed to the oversimplified ones frequently used for mathematical convenience, and omits mathematical details whenever the physical understanding can be conveyed without them.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Understanding Aerodynamics is a new approach at explaining why various aerodynamic characteristics take place. Most aerodynamics textbooks use experimental data and theoretical developments to explain aerodynamics, but there are very few equations or theories developed here. The basis is an understanding of the physical mechanisms that lead to lift and drag, which is a refreshing and important contribution. The downside is that the author tends to throw out many classic theories because they can’t explain all details of aerodynamics: my response to that is to quote the well-used statement “all theories are wrong, but some are useful.” Just because a theory isn’t perfect (and none of them are) doesn’t mean the theory can’t be useful and important. What the author should concentrate on, perhaps, is that we should never confuse our theories with reality, and I think that is an important contribution.

⭐Too often aerodynamics has been treated as applied mathematics. This is akin to force the learning of English by committing to memory English grammar rules that the vast majority of native speakers never think about. This has an effect of discouraging anyone but the most unusual students.This book, along with Ed Obert’s Aerodynamic design of transport airplane, published in 2009, are important and refreshing in that both are highly informative but not math heavy. Obert’s book is one of experience. McLean’s book, however, tackles the theory of aerodynamics from a physical point of view. It enhances your understanding of the fundamentals, which is a necessary part of an aerodynamicist’s know-how. Only by combining a strong background in theory and all-around experience can an aerodynamicist hope to function in today’s highly competitive aircraft manufacturing business.I sincerely recommend this book to people who have long lost hope in a pure mathematical and lifeless approach.

⭐This book is definitely not a light read, but the information is written in a way that makes aerodynamics quite understandable even to a non-scientist. So many of the concepts are new to me, even as someone who has loved aviation all his life, flies airplanes and volunteers at an aviation museum.

⭐This book, for an aero engineering student, will feel like a light read. Purchase this and put it on your shelf. You will enjoy its coverage of the fundamentals and find yourself referencing it from time to time to clarify things. I don’t personally know the author but my colleagues at Boeing speak to his knowledge in the field of aerodynamics. Cited this text several times in my MS thesis.

⭐The author did an excellent job balancing the dry mathematical theory with descriptive dialog aiding in the grasp of very complex theories in aerodynamic physics.

⭐excellence in reaching back to me to rectify any issue

⭐Very good read if you already have had some experience with aerodynamics. While sections of the book can certainly be used with an introductory aero book, I think it would be very rough for a beginner to rely on this volume alone. In addition, the book is more about understanding the basic physics and so does not have problem sets.Having said that, McLean does an excellent job of explaining the many subtleties inherent in the subject and I think does a great job of explaining that vorticity does not induce lift in a one-way causal way, and giving a convincing explanation of lift. The author does this both through his own explanation and showing the shortcomings in other explanations.The book covers a wealth of topics, from the validity of the continuum approach to fluid mechanics, boundary layers, typical flows, drag, propulsion, lift, and CFD. It has a nice breadth while also getting into sufficient detail for each area to help you get a better understanding of how to think about aerodynamic properties and what the proper questions are to ask.

⭐Not as easy to grasp as he makes it,on his you tube,

⭐The recipient of this gift was very pleased with the content. It is a great book written by a very knowledgeable person.As purchaser of this book in hardcover I was disappointed that upon opening the front cover full to write an message (its a present) on the inside, the binding split and ripped a bit.definitely not worth the 90€! Go with the softcover.Otherwise a great present, well received.

⭐Nice to get a fresh review of Aerodynamics, lots of subject to consider and lot’s of things to go back and review from even top authors on the subject.

⭐Excellent !

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