Review of unsteady transonic aerodynamics: Theory and applications

Unsteady transonic flow theory is reviewed and classical results from the nonlinear asymptotic theory are combined with new results from computational fluid dynamics. The emphasis is on applications to the field of aeroelasticity and on clarifying the limitations of linearized theories in problems involving mixed subsonic–supersonic flows. The inherent differences between nonlinear transonic aerodynamics and linear subsonic and supersonic aerodynamics are considered from a theoretical and computational standpoint, and the practical implications of these differences in formulating suitable aerodynamic models for aeroelastic stability calculations are discussed. Transonic similarity principles are reviewed and their relevance in understanding flutter, divergence, and control reversal phenomena of transonic aircraft is illustrated through practical examples.