Aerodynamic characteristics and load of aerostats during flight

Abstract

Together with increased interest for aircraft type like aerostats, there is a specific need to study and describe the aerodynamics of the aerostat, experimentally as well as analytically and theoretically. Although aerostats fly relatively low speeds, flight dynamics can be extremely complex both in the form of movement and character of force generated. In addition to the vortex-nature loads and the stabilizing influence of the tail surfaces loads, flight regime of the aerostat is such that the inertial load cannot be neglected. This paper shows the basics of modern aerodynamics of aerostat, and aims to describe the aerodynamic characteristics and load of aerostat during flight, gives their physical interpretation and compares the experimental values and theoretical research, on the basis of modern aerodynamics and flight mechanics.

Keywords

• aerodynamics of aerostats
• added masses
• aerodynamic coefficient
• derivative