Compressible Fluid Dynamics
Exam II
April 12, 2023
Name:
Section 1. Conceptual Questions
Please select the correct answer. This section is worth 50-points.
1. Which is true regarding expansion fans?
(a) Expansion fans do not alter the flow
(b) Expansion fans form at compression corners
(c) Stagnation pressure decreases across the fan
(d) Mach number decreases across the fan
(e) Stagnation pressure remains constant across the fan
2. What are the bounds on the angle of an oblique shock?
(a) 0≤β ≤π
(b) µ ≤β ≤π
(c) 0 ≤ β ≤ π/2
(d) µ ≤ β ≤ π/2
(e) θ ≤β ≤π
3. Which quantity remains constant across a slipline?
(a) Static density
(b) Static pressure
(c) Entropy
(d) Static temperature
(e) Velocity
4. When approaching a constant-pressure boundary, shock waves
(a) Continue unobstructed
(b) Reflect as weaker shock waves
(c) Reflect specularly as shock waves
(d) Always terminate
(e) Reflect as expansion waves
1
5. A normal shock exists somewhere along the length of a supersonic nozzle. The Mach number at the
exit plane (2) of the nozzle is subsonic. What can be said about the nozzle?
(a) A∗2 6= At
(b) The normal shock is within the converging side
(c) A∗2 = A∗1
(d) M2 can be estimated using the isentropic relationships only
(e) Too much stagnation pressure has been applied to the nozzle
6. A Mach reflection differs from a regular reflection in that:
(a) A Mach reflection involves a reflected Mach wave
(b) A Mach reflection is the reflection of a shock, whereas a regular reflection is the reflection of
light
(c) The deflection angle of the reflected shock is greater than θmax
(d) A Mach reflection only occurs when a shock reflects from a constant-pressure boundary
(e) They are the same thing
7. Compared to a two-dimensional wedge with the same half-angle and Mach number, a cone:
(a) Experiences a two-dimensional relieving effect
(b) Experiences a three-dimensional relieving effect
(c) Is incapable of generating shock waves
(d) Has the same exact flow field
(e) Experiences greater wave drag
8. If a nozzle is choked:
(a) Increasing exit pressure increases mass flow rate
(b) Stagnation pressure decreases
(c) The flow inside the nozzle is overexpanded
(d) Mass flow rate remains constant with decreasing exit pressure
(e) Stagnation temperature decreases
9. Compared to strong shocks, weak shocks result in:
(a) An increase in stagnation pressure
(b) They are the same
(c) Deflecting the downstream flow by a different amount
(d) Supersonic flow downstream of the shock
(e) A change in stagnation temperature
2
10. A reduction in cross-sectional area results in:
(a) Either acceleration or deceleration of a flow, depending on Mach number
(b) A non-adiabatic flow
(c) An acceleration of the flow
(d) A deceleration of the flow
(e) No change
3
Problem (50 Points)
A flat plate airfoil is placed in a supersonic wind tunnel for testing. The wind
tunnel has a rectangular cross-section; the test section is 8-inches tall, whereas
the nozzle throat is 2.18-inches tall. The tunnel is supplied with air from a tank,
pressurized to 94.7-psia. In addition, the air in the tank is held at a temperature of
22.22◦ C. The flat plate has a length of 2-inches. An experiment is performed to
measure the loading on this flat plate at a number of angles of attack: 0, 5, 10◦ .
Note that 1 K = 1.8◦ R.
a. What are the freestream velocity and Mach number in the test section of the
wind tunnel?
b. What are the static pressure and dynamic pressure in the test section of the
wind tunnel?
c. Calculate the lift per unit span (in units of lb/ft) at each angle of attack. You
may ignore the effect of any shocks at the trailing edge of the airfoil.
d. Calculate the wave drag per unit span (in units of lb/ft) at each angle of attack,
again ignoring the effect of any shocks at the trailing edge.
e. Calculate the lift-slope, dcl /dα for this plate in units of 1/radians.
4
Answer Key for Exam A
Section 1. Conceptual Questions
Please select the correct answer. This section is worth 50-points.
1. Which is true regarding expansion fans?
(a) Expansion fans do not alter the flow
(b) Expansion fans form at compression corners
(c) Stagnation pressure decreases across the fan
(d) Mach number decreases across the fan
(e) Stagnation pressure remains constant across the fan
2. What are the bounds on the angle of an oblique shock?
(a) 0≤β ≤π
(b) µ ≤β ≤π
(c) 0 ≤ β ≤ π/2
(d) µ ≤ β ≤ π/2
(e) θ ≤β ≤π
3. Which quantity remains constant across a slipline?
(a) Static density
(b) Static pressure
(c) Entropy
(d) Static temperature
(e) Velocity
4. When approaching a constant-pressure boundary, shock waves
(a) Continue unobstructed
(b) Reflect as weaker shock waves
(c) Reflect specularly as shock waves
(d) Always terminate
(e) Reflect as expansion waves
1
5. A normal shock exists somewhere along the length of a supersonic nozzle.
The Mach number at the exit plane (2) of the nozzle is subsonic. What can be
said about the nozzle?
(a) A∗2 6= At
(b) The normal shock is within the converging side
(c) A∗2 = A∗1
(d) M2 can be estimated using the isentropic relationships only
(e) Too much stagnation pressure has been applied to the nozzle
6. A Mach reflection differs from a regular reflection in that:
(a) A Mach reflection involves a reflected Mach wave
(b) A Mach reflection is the reflection of a shock, whereas a regular reflec-
tion is the reflection of light
(c) The deflection angle of the reflected shock is greater than θmax
(d) A Mach reflection only occurs when a shock reflects from a constant-
pressure boundary
(e) They are the same thing
7. Compared to a two-dimensional wedge with the same half-angle and Mach
number, a cone:
(a) Experiences a two-dimensional relieving effect
(b) Experiences a three-dimensional relieving effect
(c) Is incapable of generating shock waves
(d) Has the same exact flow field
(e) Experiences greater wave drag
8. If a nozzle is choked:
(a) Increasing exit pressure increases mass flow rate
(b) Stagnation pressure decreases
(c) The flow inside the nozzle is overexpanded
(d) Mass flow rate remains constant with decreasing exit pressure
(e) Stagnation temperature decreases
2
9. Compared to strong shocks, weak shocks result in:
(a) An increase in stagnation pressure
(b) They are the same
(c) Deflecting the downstream flow by a different amount
(d) Supersonic flow downstream of the shock
(e) A change in stagnation temperature
10. A reduction in cross-sectional area results in:
(a) Either acceleration or deceleration of a flow, depending on Mach num-
ber
(b) A non-adiabatic flow
(c) An acceleration of the flow
(d) A deceleration of the flow
(e) No change
3
Problem (50 Points)
A flat plate airfoil is placed in a supersonic wind tunnel for testing. The wind
tunnel has a rectangular cross-section; the test section is 8-inches tall, whereas
the nozzle throat is 2.18-inches tall. The tunnel is supplied with air from a tank,
pressurized to 94.7-psia. In addition, the air in the tank is held at a temperature of
22.22◦ C. The flat plate has a length of 2-inches. An experiment is performed to
measure the loading on this flat plate at a number of angles of attack: 0, 5, 10◦ .
Note that 1 K = 1.8◦ R.
a. What are the freestream velocity and Mach number in the test section of the
wind tunnel?
b. What are the static pressure and dynamic pressure in the test section of the
wind tunnel?
c. Calculate the lift per unit span (in units of lb/ft) at each angle of attack. You
may ignore the effect of any shocks at the trailing edge of the airfoil.
d. Calculate the wave drag per unit span (in units of lb/ft) at each angle of attack,
again ignoring the effect of any shocks at the trailing edge.
e. Calculate the lift-slope, dcl /dα for this plate in units of 1/radians.
