Book Preface

The purpose of the third edition is the same as that of the earlier editions: to provide a teaching instrument, in the classroom or independently, for the study of compressible fluid flow, and at the same time to make this instrument understandable and enjoyable for the reader. As mentioned in the Preface to the First Edition, this book is intentionally written in a rather informal style in order to talk to the reader, to gain his or her interest, and to keep the reader absorbed from cover to cover. Indeed, all of the philosophical aspects of the first two editions, including the inclusion of a historical perspective, are carried over to the third edition.

The response to the first two editions from students, faculty, and practicing professionals has been overwhelmingly favorable. Therefore, for the third edition, all of the content of the second edition has been carried over virtually intact, with only minor changes made here and there for updating. The principal difference between the third and second editions is addition of much new material, as follows:

• Each chapter starts with a Preview Box, an educational tool that gives the reader an overall perspective of the nature and importance of the material to be discussed in that chapter. The Preview Boxes are designated to heighten the reader's interest in the chapter. Also, chapter roadmaps are provided to help the reader see the bigger picture, and to navigate through the mathematical and physical details buried in the chapters.
• Increased emphasis has been placed on the physics associated with compressible flow, in order to enhance the fundamental nature of the material.
• To expedite this physical understanding, a number of new illustrative worked examples have been added that explore the physics of compressible flow.
• Because computational fluid dynamics (CFD) continues to take on a stronger role in the various aspects of compressible flow, the flavor of CFD in the third edition has been strengthened. This is not a book on CFD, but CFD is discussed in a self-contained fashion to the extent necessary to enhance the fundamentals of compressible flow.
• New homework problems have been added to the existing ones. There is a solutions manual for the problems available from McGraw-Hill for the use of the classroom instructor.
• Consistent with all the new material, a number of new illustrations and photographs have been added.

This book is designed to be used in advanced undergraduate and first-year graduate courses in compressible flow. The chapters divide into three general categories, which the instructor can use to mold a course suitable to his or her needs:

• Chapters 1-5 make up the core of a basic introduction to classical compressible flow, with the treatment of shock waves, expansion waves, and nozzle flows. The mathematics in these chapters is mainly algebra.
• Chapters 6-10 deal with a slightly more advanced aspects of classical compressible flow, with mathematics at the level of partial differential equations.
• Chapters 11-17 cover more modern aspects of compressible flow, dealing with such features as the use computational fluid dynamics to study more complex phenomena, and the general nature of high-temperature flows.

Taken in total, the book provides the twenty-first-century student with a balanced treatment of both the classical and modern aspects of compressible flow. Special thanks are given to various people who have been responsible for the materialization of this third edition:

• My students, as well as students and readers from all over the world, who have responded so enthusiastically to the first two editions, and who have provided the ultimate joy to the author of being an engineering educator.
• My family, who provide the other ultimate joy of being a husband, father, and grandfather.
• My colleagues at the University of Maryland, the National Air and Space Museum, and at many other academic and research institutions, as well as industry, around the world, who have helped to expand my horizons.
• Susan Cunningham, who, as my scientific typist, has done an excellent job of preparing the additional manuscript.

Finally, compressible flow is an exciting subject-exciting to learn, exciting to teach, and exciting to write about. The purpose of this book is to excite the reader, and to make the study of compressible flow an enjoyable experience. So this author says-read on and enjoy.

-John D. Anderson, Jr.