Unsteady supersonic aerodynamic theory by the method of potential gradient
A generalized solution of the hyperbolic wave equation has been derived. The method used has been further developed to relate the velocity components at a field point to the potential gradient distribution in the dependence domain. Singular integrals have been evaluated in closed form, while numerical integration methods are suggested for treating more complex but analytic functions. Idealization of the lifting surfaces by trapezoidal elements with two sides parallel to the streamlines is computationally efficient because line integrations along the other two sides need only be considered. Furthermore, all the integrands vanish on the Mach cone and the need for determining the hyperbolic curves of intersection of the cone with the lifting surface is avoided. Generalized aerodynamic coefficients for three AGARD planforms have been calculated and compared with the available results.