Untitled - Aerobib - Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

FOREWORD
During the academic term 1951–52, Professor Theodore von Kármán conducted
a course on Aerodynamics of Combustion at the University of Paris. This
course was mainly intended for aeronautical engineers with the objective of encouraging
the study of the problems risen by the new propulsion systems developed by
Aeronautics, which necessitates the assistance of the theories and methods of Aerodynamics,
Thermodynamics and Chemistry of Combustion. The new Science born
to deal with these problems needed a name and Prof. von Kármán suggested it be
called AEROTHERMOCHEMISTRY for its analogy with other classical science of
Aeronautics, such as Aeroelasticity or Aerothermodynamics. In a few years this designation
has been widely accepted.
The author was invited by Prof. von Kármán to participate as his assistant in
developing this course. Due to the amount of bibliography that has to be reviewed in
addition to the numerous studies and exercises required in its preparation it was not
possible at the time to write the lectures.
Later, when the European Office of the ARDC was activated it Brussels and
in view of the general demand for the Lectures by Prof. von Kármán, the said Office
offered the author the opportunity of preparing a Report on Aerothermochemistry
based upon the course conducted by Prof. von Kármán, through a research contract
sponsored by ARDC.
Work was started in 1953 but for different reasons it had to be interrumped
in several occasions. At the same time investigation was progressing very rapidly in
the different fields of Aerothermochemistry and it was necessary to incorporate them
into this report, in order to keep it current. For this reason, initial planning had to be
continuously extended and finally carried far beyond its original intention.
The author wishes to express his deep appreciation to Prof. von Kármán who
was a constant source of inspiration and encouragement and whose advise in preparing
this report proved invaluable. At the same time he trusts that Prof. von Kármán will
excuse this report if it fails to reflect the excellencies of the course on which it is based.
Special acknowledgment is given to the contribution of the European Office
ARDC, and the Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeronáutica Esteban Terradas for the
help received in preparing this report for publication.
Finally, I wish to acknowledge the valuable collaboration of Carlos Sánchez