Introduction to Wind Engineering & Aeronautical Applications

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Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental terms, historical milestones, wind types, flight phases, aerodynamic testing tools, and engineering applications discussed in the lecture.

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40 Terms

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Wind Engineering

Interdisciplinary field that studies the effects of wind on natural and built environments, blending structural engineering, meteorology, mechanical engineering, and fluid dynamics.

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Wind-Loading Chain

Analytical method introduced by Alan Garnett Davenport to evaluate how wind forces act on and are transferred through a structure.

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Headwind

Wind blowing directly against an aircraft’s direction of travel, increasing ground roll and required airspeed for takeoff or landing.

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Tailwind

Wind blowing in the same direction as an aircraft’s path, reducing ground roll during takeoff but increasing landing distance.

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Crosswind

Wind blowing perpendicular or at an angle to the runway or flight path, creating lateral drift and higher pilot workload.

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Wind Shear

Rapid change in wind speed and/or direction over a short distance, hazardous during takeoff, landing, and low-altitude flight.

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Wind Gust

Sudden brief increase in wind speed that can cause abrupt changes in lift and aircraft stability.

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Takeoff Phase

Critical flight segment from brake release to initial climb, highly sensitive to wind effects on lift generation and directional control.

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Cruise Phase

Portion of flight at steady altitude and speed where headwinds raise fuel burn, tailwinds improve efficiency, and crosswinds cause course drift.

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Landing Phase

Descent and touchdown segment requiring precise control; wind influences approach stability, touchdown point, and braking performance.

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Weathercocking

Tendency of an aircraft’s nose to turn into the wind during ground roll or rotation, especially under strong crosswinds.

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Crosswind Limit

Maximum demonstrated or certified crosswind component an aircraft can safely handle during takeoff or landing.

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Ground Roll

Distance an aircraft travels on the runway before becoming airborne or after touchdown.

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Runway Overrun

Situation where an aircraft is unable to stop before the runway end, often linked to excessive tailwind or high landing speed.

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Clear Air Turbulence (CAT)

Severe turbulence occurring in cloud-free regions, typically near jet streams, without visible warning signs.

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Crab Angle

Angular offset between an aircraft’s nose and its track used to counter crosswind drift during approach or cruise.

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Wing-Low (Side-Slip) Technique

Crosswind landing method where the upwind wing is lowered and opposite rudder applied to keep the aircraft aligned with the runway.

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LLWAS (Low-Level Wind Shear Alert System)

Ground-based sensor network that detects hazardous wind shear near airports and alerts pilots and controllers.

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Wind Tunnel

Controlled facility that drives airflow past a stationary model to measure aerodynamic forces and visualize flow patterns.

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Open-Circuit Wind Tunnel (Eiffel Type)

Wind tunnel that draws air from the room, passes it through the test section, and exhausts it back into the environment.

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Closed-Circuit Wind Tunnel (Göttingen Type)

Energy-efficient tunnel where air circulates in a continuous loop, allowing tighter flow control and reduced power consumption.

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Subsonic Wind Tunnel

Low-speed tunnel operating at Mach numbers up to 0.3 for testing civilian aircraft, cars, and buildings.

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Transonic Wind Tunnel

High-speed tunnel covering Mach 0.3–1.4 to study flow near the speed of sound where compressibility effects become significant.

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Supersonic Wind Tunnel

Facility operating at Mach 1.4–5.0 for testing aircraft and missiles in supersonic regimes.

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Hypersonic Wind Tunnel

Tunnel producing flow above Mach 5 to examine extreme heating, shockwave behavior, and re-entry vehicles.

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Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Numerical method that solves the Navier-Stokes equations on computers to simulate airflow over full-scale models under varied conditions.

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Drag and Lift Optimization

Design process that modifies shapes (wings, fuselage) to reduce drag and increase lift, improving fuel efficiency.

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Stability & Control Surface Evaluation

Wind-tunnel or CFD assessment of rudders, ailerons, elevators, and other surfaces to ensure balanced, responsive flight control.

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Hypersonic Flow

Airflow at speeds greater than Mach 5, characterized by intense shockwaves and high thermal loads.

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Shockwave Interaction

Complex behavior of shockwaves as they form and impinge on vehicle surfaces, critical for spacecraft re-entry design.

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By-Pass/Duct Design

Engineering of internal or external ducts that manage airflow across wide Mach ranges to maintain engine stability and prevent inlet unstart.

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Turbine Blade Optimization

Application of aerodynamic and structural principles to shape wind-turbine or engine blades for maximal energy capture and minimal stress.

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Inlet Design

Shaping of engine intakes to ensure smooth, stable airflow, preventing compressor stall or surge (e.g., F-16 or F-35 inlets).

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Structural Wind Load

Forces exerted by wind on buildings or infrastructure that must be quantified to ensure safety and resilience.

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Wind-Induced Vibration

Oscillations (flutter, sway) in tall or flexible structures caused by wind, addressed through aerodynamic damping or tuning.

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Pedestrian Wind Comfort

Assessment of wind conditions at street level to improve safety, ventilation, and thermal comfort in urban design.

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Sustainable Wind-Resilient Infrastructure

Buildings and systems designed with wind analysis to withstand extreme weather while supporting climate adaptation.

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Alan Garnett Davenport

Pioneer of wind engineering renowned for developing modern wind-loading analysis methods and establishing boundary-layer wind tunnels.

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Whirling Arm Device

Early 1746 apparatus by Benjamin Robins that rotated models through still air to study aerodynamic forces before wind tunnels existed.

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First Enclosed Wind Tunnel

1871 facility constructed by Francis Herbert Wenham, providing a controlled airflow chamber for precise aerodynamic testing.