Rarefied Gas Dynamics From Basic Concepts to Actual Calculations

This work presents the concepts, methods and applications of kinetic theory to rarefied gas dynamics. After introducing the basic tools, Carlo Cercignani treats problems in plane geometry using all the approximation techniques. He later uses these same techniques to deal with two- and three-dimensional problems. The models include not only monatomic but also polyatomic gases, mixtures, chemical reactions. A special chapter is devoted to evaporation and condensation phenomena. Each section is accompanied by helpful problems. The book can be used in a range of graduate courses in aerospace engineering or applied mathematics.

This book presents the concepts, methods and applications of kinetic theory to rarefied gas dynamics. After introducing the basic tools, problems in plane geometry are treated using approximation techniques (perturbation and numerical methods). These same techniques are later used to deal with two- and three-dimensional problems. The models include not only monatomic but also polyatomic gases, mixtures, chemical reactions. A special chapter is devoted to evaporation and condensation phenomena. Each section is accompanied by problems which are mainly intended to demonstrate the use of the material in the text and to outline additional subjects, results and equations. This will help ensure that the book can be used for a range of graduate courses in aerospace engineering or applied mathematics.

1. Boltzmann equation and gas-surface interaction; 2. Problems for a gas in a slab: general aspects and preliminary example; 3. Problems for a gas in a slab or a half-space: discussion of some solutions; 4. Propagation phenomena and shock waves in rarefied gases; 5. Perturbation methods in more than one dimension; 6. Polyatomic gases, mixtures, chemistry and radiation; 7. Solving the Boltzmann equation by numerical techniques; 8. Evaporation and condensation phenomena.

The aim of this book is to present the concepts, methods and applications of kinetic theory to rarefied gas dynamics. Each section is accompanied by problems which are intended to demonstrate the use of the material in the text. For graduate courses in aerospace engineering or applied mathematics.