Introduction to Wind Engineering – Lecture Review 1

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Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, periods, aerodynamic concepts, flight effects, hazards, practical tools, and advanced aerospace applications drawn from the lecture on wind engineering.

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47 Terms

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Wind Engineering

The rational study of interactions between wind in the atmospheric boundary layer and people, structures, and activities at Earth’s surface (Cermak, 1975).

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Atmospheric Boundary Layer

The lowest portion of the atmosphere directly influenced by its contact with Earth’s surface, where wind–structure interactions are most significant.

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Traditional Period (≈ pre-1750)

Era when structures were designed against wind primarily by trial, error, and local building traditions.

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Empirical Period (1750–1900)

Phase marked by observation-based rules as bridges, railways, and larger infrastructure drove interest in wind effects.

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Establishment Period (1900–1960)

Time when aerodynamic theory, wind tunnels, and boundary-layer research provided a scientific foundation for wind engineering.

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Period of Growth (1960–1980)

Post-WWII prosperity spurred rapid advances and widespread application of wind-engineering principles.

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Modern Period (1980–present)

Current era characterized by extensive use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and high-performance computing in wind studies.

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Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Numerical simulation technique that solves fluid-flow equations to predict wind behaviour around objects or within spaces.

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Headwind

Wind blowing opposite the direction of travel; increases relative airflow, lift, and drag while reducing ground speed.

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Tailwind

Wind blowing from behind the aircraft; decreases relative airflow over wings, requiring higher ground speed for take-off or landing.

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Crosswind

Wind blowing perpendicular to the flight path, causing lateral drift and yaw forces that pilots must correct.

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Wind Shear

Sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance, potentially producing violent up- or downdrafts and airspeed shifts.

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Turbulence

Random, rapidly fluctuating gusts that vary lift and attitude, producing airframe shaking and control challenges.

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Lift

Aerodynamic force perpendicular to the oncoming airflow; proportional to airspeed and wing characteristics.

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Drag

Aerodynamic resistance parallel to the oncoming airflow; increases with speed and affects fuel efficiency.

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Lateral Stability

Aircraft’s ability to resist roll disturbances and return to level flight after gusts or crosswind inputs.

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Directional Stability

Tendency of an aircraft to maintain its heading and resist unwanted yaw motions in disturbed air.

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Wind Correction Angle

Intentional heading offset into the wind during cruise to maintain a straight ground track in a crosswind.

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Jetstream

High-speed, narrow air current at cruising altitudes that pilots exploit for tailwinds to save time and fuel.

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Gust Factor

Additional speed (typically half the reported gust value) added to approach airspeed to buffer against sudden wind drops.

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Weathervaning

Tendency of an aircraft on the ground to yaw into the wind, countered by rudder during take-off roll.

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LLWAS (Low-Level Wind-Shear Alert System)

Airport-based sensor network that detects and warns pilots of hazardous low-altitude wind-shear conditions.

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Runway Alignment

Design or selection of runways to face prevailing winds, reducing take-off and landing distances and crosswind exposure.

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Airborne Wind Energy (AWE)

Renewable-energy concept using tethered kites or UAVs to capture strong high-altitude winds for electricity generation.

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Ground-Generation AWE

AWE setup where tether tension drives generators on the ground as the airborne element cycles through power strokes.

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Fly-Generation AWE

AWE configuration with onboard generators that send electricity down the tether from aloft.

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Wind Tunnel

Controlled facility that produces uniform airflow over scaled or full-size models to measure aerodynamic forces and flow behaviour.

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Boundary-Layer Wind Tunnel

Wind-tunnel type that replicates atmospheric boundary-layer profiles for realistic building and terrain studies.

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RANS (Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes)

CFD approach that solves time-averaged flow equations for efficient prediction of mean wind fields.

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LES (Large Eddy Simulation)

CFD technique that resolves large turbulent structures while modelling smaller eddies for detailed unsteady flow analysis.

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Hybrid Modeling

Combination of RANS, LES, or other methods to balance accuracy and computational cost in wind simulations.

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Aerodynamic Shape Optimization

Systematic modification of aircraft geometry using CFD and algorithms to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.

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Adjoint Method

Gradient-based optimization approach that computes sensitivity derivatives for complex shapes, enabling efficient design changes.

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Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP)

Lightweight composite with high strength-to-weight ratio used in aircraft structures to withstand wind-induced loads.

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Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP)

Composite material offering good fatigue resistance, employed in aerospace components exposed to gust loading.

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Thermoplastic Composites

Recyclable, weldable composite materials that offer sustainable alternatives for future aerospace structures.

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Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC)

Advanced control technique that optimizes future control actions in real time, accounting for wind disturbances and system limits.

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Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)

Continuous broadcast of real-time weather, including winds, enabling pilots to plan safe airport operations.

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Automatic Weather Observation System (AWOS)

Automated station providing real-time wind, temperature, and visibility data to enhance flight safety and forecasting.

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Atmospheric Reentry

High-speed descent of a spacecraft through a planet’s atmosphere, generating intense aerodynamic heating and requiring precise wind-related modelling.

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Rocket Exhaust Dispersion

Prediction of how high-velocity rocket plumes interact with structures and environment, ensuring safe launch operations.

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National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC)

Large wind-tunnel facility used for full-scale aerodynamic and parachute testing, including spacecraft hardware.

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Entry Systems

Set of technologies—heat shields, parachutes, etc.—designed to return spacecraft safely through atmospheric reentry.

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Heat Shield

Protective structure that absorbs and dissipates aerodynamic heating during spacecraft reentry.

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Parachute Canopy Testing

Wind-tunnel or flight evaluation of parachute designs to verify stability and drag performance before full-scale deployment.

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Tether (in AWE)

Cable connecting airborne kite/UAV to the ground station, transmitting mechanical power or electrical energy.

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Crosswind Control Techniques

Combined rudder and aileron inputs used during take-off or landing to counter drift and wing lift in side winds.