Key concepts:
The traditional understanding of aerodynamics is based on the principles of fluid dynamics and the behavior of air around solid objects. According to this understanding, the motion of air around an object is governed by the Navier-Stokes equations, which describe the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy in a fluid.
According to McLean’s argument, the low pressure on the upper surface is caused by the air's need to accelerate around the curved geometry. The pressure field adjusts instantaneously to enforce the continuity of the flow. Therefore, lift is generated because the pressure field acts on the wing's surface, and the integrated pressure difference constitutes the lift force.
Prandtl’s boundary-layer theory (for high Re) separates the flow into:
Experiments validate physics and reveal regimes where models fail. Core methods:
