Kutta–Joukowski Theorem for Unsteady Linear Aerodynamics

What is it about?

The Kutta-Joukowski theorem for steady flows is a widely-applied tool, useful for the development of computationally efficient aerodynamic solvers for lifting bodies. In this work, its extension to unsteady linear aerodynamics is presented and applied to airfoils subject to damped oscillatory motion and gust perturbation.

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Why is it important?

Widely-used computational tools for aerodynamics are based on the application of the Kutta-Joukowski theorem to determine the relation between bound circulation and lift, even in case of unsteady flow configurations. More accurate unsteady aerodynamics predictions can be achieved by application of the Kutta-Joukowski theorem extension presented in this work.