Principles of Helicopter Aerodynamics (Cambridge Aerospace Series, Series Number 12)

An internationally recognized expert explains the aerodynamic principles of helicopters and other rotating-wing vertical lift aircraft. Besides the history of helicopter flight, basic methods of analysis, and performance and design issues, Leishman covers airfoil flows, unsteady aerodynamics, dynamic stall, and rotor wakes. Each chapter includes homework problems. "This book provides a thorough, modern treatment of the aerodynamic principles of helicopters and other rotating-wing vertical lift aircraft. The first part of the text begins with a technical history of helicopter flight, and then covers basic methods of rotor aerodynamic analysis and related issues associated with helicopter performance and aerodynamic design. The second part is devoted to more advanced topics in helicopter aerodynamics, including airfoil flows, unsteady aerodynamics, dynamic stall, and rotor wakes. Every chapter is illustrated, and concludes with a bibliography and homework problems. The text is complemented by a companion solutions manual to the problems." "Advanced undergraduate and graduate students, as well as practicing engineers and researchers, will welcome this text on rotating-wing aerodynamics."--Jacket The usefulness of helicopters lies in their unique ability to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward, or sideways. These very qualities, however, come at a high cost involving complex aerodynamic problems. This modern treatment, written by an internationally recognized expert, explains the aerodynamic principles of helicopters and other rotating-wing vertical lift aircraft. Besides the history of helicopter flight, basic methods of analysis, and performance and design issues, the author covers airfoil flows, unsteady aerodynamics, dynamic stall, and rotor wakes. Each chapter concludes with homework problems. The science of aerodynamics is the fundament of all flight.