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Originally posted by bigben2k
I'm hoping that this book would cover different fin shapes, like pins or blades (ex. 1) or really odd shapes (ex. 2, although clearly inefficient)?
Would it cover air as well as water?
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Yes on both counts, though as soon as you begin to stray from common shapes you're kinda out on your own. A lot of people without engineering backgrounds seem to think we've got equations or tables for everything. Well yeah, but darn near all we have is based on experiments that someone took the time to do. So if you wish to know the performance of some odd-ball shape in convection, you'll often have to do the testing yourself. Where the theory helps in this regard is understanding what to expect, what to test, and how to test it.
As far as the text is concerned, air and water are interchangeable. Until you get to Mach numbers of ~0.3, assuming air to be incompressible is the norm. Yeah, it's density follows Boyle's law, but water's density also varies with temperature. In many respects, gases and liquids aren't so far apart.
Only ridden on the 340 once. I attributed the lower noise levels to engine advancements and sound deadening as much as anything. I hadn't really given consideration to external factors aside from reducing the occasional protrusion (from fasteners, mainly). I've ridden the 777 a few times and found it to be very quiet and comfortable, too. Those days are pretty well gone for me, however. I travelled ~100 days/year at my former job but more like 10 at this one.