A finite element method for potential aerodynamics around complex configurations

A general formulation for steady and oscillatory, subsonic and supersonic, potential linearized aerodynamic flow around complex configurations is presented. A linear integral equation relating the unknown potential on the surface of the body to the known downwash is used. The formulation is applied to the analysis of the flow field around wings and wing-body combinations. The surface is divided into small quadrilateral elements which are approximated with a hyperboloidal surface. The potential is assumed to be constant within each element. This yields a set of linear algebraic equations. The coefficients are evaluated analytically. Numerical results for steady and oscillatory, subsonic and supersonic flows indicate that the method, intrinsically general and flexible, is also fast, accurate and in excellent agreement with existing results.