Pawan’s Reviews > Fundamentals of Aerodynamics > Status Update

Aerodynamics is exciting because the point and line elements remind of electrostatics; vortex flow and its sheets remind of electrodynamics. Lattice (Boltzmann) method reminds of machine learning gradients, with damping factor analogous to learning rate. At higher speeds, sonic booms, wave mechanics and thermodynamics come into play - now: energy transfers in hypersonics.

History, design and applied sections make the read more interesting (and addictive).

Usually, analytical solutions have rampant approximations that extenuate drudgery. Numerically, each grid point (vertex) uses values computed in the previous step, at nearby vertices, to compute the value at current step. Large number of threads allow values to be obtained together in parallel.

Chapters 4 and 5 were of interest.

High alpha. VO2 maxed out. Boundary layer separation. Stall. Fatigue. Nose dive. Injury.

Specific part of this book was suggested for reading to understand the underlying theory in iterative mesh based simulations to select optimal design within constraints. I had read an older book long back, to appear busy, and evade speaking during discussions on blackbody radiation of fair faced females. Reading rest of it.