Analysis of transonic flow about harmonically oscillating airfoils and wings

A finite difference method for analyzing the unsteady transonic flow about harmonically oscillating wings is discussed. The procedure is based on separating the velocity potential into steady and unsteady parts and linearizing the resulting partial differential equations for small disturbances. Initial solutions were obtained using relaxation procedures, but the solution range proved to be limited in terms of Mach number and reduced frequency. Recent two-dimensional results are presented which have been obtained with direct solution procedures in which the difference equations are solved 'all at once' and these provide reasonable correlation for practical values of Mach number and reduced frequency.