Transonic is an aeronautics term referring to a range of velocities just below and above the speed of sound. It is defined as the range of speeds between critical mach, when some parts of the airflow over an aircraft become supersonic, and a higher speed, typically near Mach 1.2, when all of the airflow is supersonic. Between these speeds some of the airflow is supersonic, and some is not.
Most modern jet powered aircraft spend a considerable amount of time in the transonic regime. This is particularly important due to an effect known as wave drag, which is prevalent in these speed ranges. Attempts to combat wave drag can be seen on all high-speed aircraft; most notable is the use of swept wings, but another common form is a wasp-waist fuselage as a side effect of the area rule.
Transonic flow presents a special problem area as neither equations describing subsonic flow nor those describing supersonic flow may be accurately applied to the regime.
Throughout the transonic range, the drag coefficient of the airplane is greater than in the supersonic range because of the erratic shock formation and general flow instabilities.
Often, in transonic flow, the flow is unsteady, and the shock waves on the body surface may jump back and forth along the surface, thus disrupting and separating the flow over the wing surface.
Transonic is an aeronautics term referring to a range of velocities just below and above the speed of sound (about mach 0.8 - 1.3).
It is defined as the range of speeds between critical mach, when some parts of the airflow over an aircraft become supersonic, and a higher speed, typically near Mach 1.2, when all of the airflow is supersonic.
This is particularly important due to an effect known as wave drag, which is prevalent in these speed ranges.
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