Find the Mach number when an aeroplane is flying at 900 km/hour through still air having a pressure of 8.0 N/cm² and temperature -15°C. Take k = 1.4 and R = 287 J/kg K. Calculate the pressure, temperature and density of air at the stagnation point on the nose of the plane.

Aeroplane Stagnation Properties Calculation

Problem Statement

Find the Mach number when an aeroplane is flying at 900 km/hour through still air having a pressure of 8.0 N/cm² and temperature -15°C. Take k = 1.4 and R = 287 J/kg K. Calculate the pressure, temperature and density of air at the stagnation point on the nose of the plane.

Given Data & Constants

  • Speed of aeroplane, \(V = 900 \, \text{km/hr}\)
  • Static pressure, \(P_1 = 8.0 \, \text{N/cm}^2\)
  • Static temperature, \(T_1 = -15^\circ\text{C}\)
  • Adiabatic index, \(k = 1.4\)
  • Gas constant, \(R = 287 \, \text{J/kg K}\)

Solution

1. Convert Units and Calculate Speed of Sound

First, we convert the speed and temperature to SI units.

$$ V = 900 \, \frac{\text{km}}{\text{hr}} \times \frac{1000 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{1 \, \text{hr}}{3600 \, \text{s}} = 250 \, \text{m/s} $$ $$ T_1 = -15^\circ\text{C} + 273.15 = 258.15 \, \text{K} $$

Now, calculate the local speed of sound (\(c\)).

$$ c = \sqrt{kRT_1} = \sqrt{1.4 \times 287 \times 258.15} \approx 322.06 \, \text{m/s} $$

2. Calculate the Mach Number (M)

$$ M = \frac{V}{c} = \frac{250}{322.06} \approx 0.776 $$

3. Calculate Stagnation Temperature (\(T_0\))

The stagnation temperature is the temperature the air reaches when it is brought to rest adiabatically.

$$ T_0 = T_1 \left(1 + \frac{k-1}{2}M^2\right) $$ $$ T_0 = 258.15 \left(1 + \frac{1.4-1}{2}(0.776)^2\right) = 258.15 (1 + 0.2 \times 0.602) $$ $$ T_0 = 258.15 \times 1.1204 \approx 289.23 \, \text{K} \quad (16.08^\circ\text{C}) $$

4. Calculate Stagnation Pressure (\(P_0\))

First, convert the static pressure to Pascals: \(P_1 = 8.0 \, \text{N/cm}^2 = 80000 \, \text{N/m}^2\).

$$ P_0 = P_1 \left(\frac{T_0}{T_1}\right)^{\frac{k}{k-1}} = P_1 (1.1204)^{\frac{1.4}{0.4}} $$ $$ P_0 = 80000 \times (1.1204)^{3.5} \approx 80000 \times 1.486 $$ $$ P_0 \approx 118880 \, \text{N/m}^2 \quad (11.89 \, \text{N/cm}^2) $$

5. Calculate Stagnation Density (\(\rho_0\))

Using the ideal gas law with the stagnation properties.

$$ \rho_0 = \frac{P_0}{R T_0} = \frac{118880}{287 \times 289.23} \approx 1.432 \, \text{kg/m}^3 $$
Final Results:

Mach Number: \( \approx 0.776 \)

Stagnation Pressure: \( \approx 11.89 \, \text{N/cm}^2 \)

Stagnation Temperature: \( \approx 289.23 \, \text{K} \) or \(16.08^\circ\text{C}\)

Stagnation Density: \( \approx 1.432 \, \text{kg/m}^3 \)

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