Understanding Aerodynamics: Arguing from the Real Physics

List of Symbols

Many of the symbols listed below have different meanings in different contexts, as indicated when multiple definitions are given. When an example of usage (a figure or equation) is listed, it is not necessarily the only example.

English Symbols

a	Acceleration
Speed of sound
A	Streamtube area
Amplitude of a disturbance in laminar-flow stability theory
A1,A2	Coefficients of induced-drag polar (equation 8.3.17)
Ai	Coefficients of sin-series spanloads (equation 8.3.20)
Aθ	Wake momentum area (equation 6.1.6)
AR	Aspect ratio = b2/s
b	Wingspan
bo	Span between the centers of trailing vortex cores (figure 8.3.3)
B	Constant in law of wall (equation 4.4.10)
c	Airfoil chord
cavg	Wing average chord
	Wing average chord (figure 8.3.7)
cp	Specific heat at constant pressure
cv	Specific heat at constant volume
C	Cylindrical part of the outer boundary of a control volume (figure 6.1.1)
Cd	Drag coefficient (2D or per unit span)
CD	Drag coefficient (3D)
CDi	Induced-drag coefficient (3D)
CDimin	Minimum induced drag coefficient on induced-drag polar (equation 8.3.19)
CDio	Induced drag coefficient at zero lift (equation 8.3.17)
CDo	Drag coefficient at zero lift (equation 8.3.15)
Cf	Skin-friction coefficient
Cl	Lift coefficient (2D or per unit span)
CL	Lift coefficient (3D)
CLmax	Maximum lift coefficient of a 3D wing
Cm	Pitching ...