Spreadsheet computations of a symmetric double wedge airfoil in supersonic flow

摘要

In this paper, the virtues of spreadsheet computation are demonstrated by determining the well-known lift and drag characteristics of a symmetric double wedge airfoil in supersonic flow. The computations require the use of shock-expansion theory of gas dynamics. This determination is a standard problem in gas dynamics that, while simple in nature, involves considerable computation. Spreadsheet solvers greatly diminish this effort and allow students to focus more on the physics of the problem. Moreover, they enable students to explore the problem in more detail.