Hi,

can someone give a physical explanation for pressure coefficient? I know its defn -

The pressure coefficient is a dimensionless number less than one which describes the relative pressures throughout a flow field in fluid dynamics

But what can it help explain if I have a pressure coefficient plot of an airfoil? How can I relate to its lift and drag or other info? Or if I've 2 different plots, what useful info can I obtain?

Thank you.

Pressure coefficient is pressure component of dimensionless local drag (or lift) force.... Integration of pressure coeff over the surface of bluff body will yield the pressure drag (or lift) coefficient.