How Do You Derive the Equation for Drag?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion centers around deriving the equation for drag force in fluid dynamics, specifically in the context of aerodynamics. Participants are exploring the foundational concepts and mathematical relationships that lead to the drag equation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Some participants attempt to recall the derivation process, mentioning the integration of pressure and shear forces over an airfoil's surface. Others express difficulty in finding resources that adequately explain the derivation, while one participant references the Buckingham Pi Theorem as a validation method.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their thoughts and resources. Some guidance has been offered regarding the integration of forces and the relevance of specific textbooks, but there is no explicit consensus on the derivation process itself.

Contextual Notes

Participants note challenges in recalling material from previous classes and the difficulty in finding comprehensive online resources. There is mention of a specific textbook that may contain relevant information, but access to it may be limited.

exequor
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could someone tell me how to derive the equation for drag or send me a site that can do it.

Fd = [Coefficient of drag * density * Area (cross-sectional)*v^2 ] / 2
 
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I can't find a site which explains it, and it's been a year since I've taken the class, so I wouldn't be able to do it justice.

Drag (and lift) are both determined first by integrating pressure and shear forces over the surface of the airfoil. Then, they are converted to the Coefficients by dividing by the dynamic pressure. That division is validated by the Buckingham Pi Theorem.

Unfortunately, every site I've found is merely an aerodynamics course syllabus which lists the topic and cites the textbook my class used (and my professor wrote FWIW... makes me happy about my education).

This is the textbook. It's expensive... I'd check to see if they've got it in the library. Everything you need is in the first chapter.
 
Originally posted by cipher
could someone tell me how to derive the equation for drag or send me a site that can do it.

Fd = [Coefficient of drag * density * Area (cross-sectional)*v^2 ] / 2


Fd(Density) = Coeficient of Drag*Density*Area∫v dv
 


Originally posted by PrudensOptimus
Fd(Density) = Coeficient of Drag*Density*Area∫v dv

Uh... no.

rho*A*V^2 is comes from Mach number relationships, not integrating velocity.
 

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