Aircraft descent performance based on flight data

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
C.A. Hall ◽  
S.R. Burnell ◽  
A.P. Deshpande
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Time History ◽  
Gravitational Potential Energy ◽  
Aircraft Engines ◽  
Flight Data ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Fuel Burn ◽  
Air Speed ◽  
Drag Ratio ◽  
Lift To Drag Ratio

Abstract There are significant variations in the fuel consumption of aircraft during the descent phase of a flight. This paper uses aircraft flight data measurements to develop an improved understanding of these variations. A model of the aircraft engines is developed that is matched to flight data and shown to reproduce the time history of engine parameters. This model is used to determine the overall engine efficiency at each point during a descent. This enables an energy breakdown to be completed, in terms of mechanical energy from fuel, gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy. During descent, the aircraft engines operate at low overall pressure ratios corresponding to low fuel flow rates and low overall efficiencies. On average, the engine overall efficiency during descent is one-third of cruise efficiency. The airframe aerodynamic performance is deteriorated during descent with an average lift-to-drag ratio that is 87% of the average value at cruise. There are also large variations in air-track efficiency, and for the flights analysed the great circle descent distance was found to be 85% of the average descent air distance. To minimise fuel burn, flights should cruise as far as possible before starting descent and follow a trajectory with the shortest possible air distance. The descent air speed should be set to maximise the aircraft lift-to-drag ratio. Such descents could save up to 0.5% of the total aircraft mass in fuel.

scholarly journals APPROXIMATE ASSESSMENT OF THE OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCES OF AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICHLE ACCORDING TO ITS FLIGHT DATA

Aviation ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 187-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeriy Silkov ◽  
Mykola Delas
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Comparative Assessment ◽  
Flight Duration ◽  
Flight Data ◽  
Flight Range ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Drag Ratio ◽  
Lift To Drag Ratio

The article is dedicated to the substantiation of the complex parameter that characterizes the technical level of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This parameter includes the maximum lift-to-drag ratio, propeller efficiency, specific fuel consumption, and other components, on which the main flight characteristics, such as flight range and flight duration, depend. To make a comparative assessment of UAVs of different types, a special scale is developed.

Gurney flap scaling for optimum lift-to-drag ratio

AIAA Journal ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 1888-1890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Giguere ◽  
Guy Dumas ◽  
Jean Lemay
Keyword(s):  
Gurney Flap ◽  
Drag Ratio ◽  
Lift To Drag Ratio

scholarly journals A Parametric Study of Trailing Edge Flap Implementation on Three Different Airfoils Through an Artificial Neuronal Network

Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 828
Author(s):  
Igor Rodriguez-Eguia ◽  
Iñigo Errasti ◽  
Unai Fernandez-Gamiz ◽  
Jesús María Blanco ◽  
Ekaitz Zulueta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerodynamic Coefficients ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
High Lift ◽  
Trailing Edge Flaps ◽  
Artificial Neural Network Ann ◽  
Lift And Drag ◽  
Artificial Neuronal Network ◽  
Naca 0012 ◽  
Drag Ratio ◽  
Lift To Drag Ratio

Trailing edge flaps (TEFs) are high-lift devices that generate changes in the lift and drag coefficients of an airfoil. A large number of 2D simulations are performed in this study, in order to measure these changes in aerodynamic coefficients and to analyze them for a given Reynolds number. Three different airfoils, namely NACA 0012, NACA 64(3)-618, and S810, are studied in relation to three combinations of the following parameters: angle of attack, flap angle (deflection), and flaplength. Results are in concordance with the aerodynamic results expected when studying a TEF on an airfoil, showing the effect exerted by the three parameters on both aerodynamic coefficients lift and drag. Depending on whether the airfoil flap is deployed on either the pressure zone or the suction zone, the lift-to-drag ratio, CL/CD, will increase or decrease, respectively. Besides, the use of a larger flap length will increase the higher values and decrease the lower values of the CL/CD ratio. In addition, an artificial neural network (ANN) based prediction model for aerodynamic forces was built through the results obtained from the research.

scholarly journals An estimation method for the fuel burn and other performance characteristics of civil transport aircraft during cruise: part 2, determining the aircraft’s characteristic parameters

2020 ◽  
Vol 125 (1284) ◽  
pp. 296-340
Author(s):  
D.I.A. Poll ◽  
U. Schumann
Keyword(s):  
Estimation Method ◽  
Accurate Method ◽  
Characteristic Parameters ◽  
Transport Aircraft ◽  
The Public ◽  
Engine Thrust ◽  
Fuel Burn ◽  
Burn Rate ◽  
Drag Ratio ◽  
Independent Parameters

ABSTRACTA simple yet physically comprehensive and accurate method for the estimation of the cruise fuel burn rate of turbofan powered transport aircraft operating in a general atmosphere was developed in part 1. The method is built on previously published work showing that suitable normalisation reduces the governing relations to a set of near-universal curves. However, to apply the method to a specific aircraft, values must be assigned to six independent parameters and the more accurate these values are the more accurate the estimates will be. Unfortunately, some of these parameters rarely appear in the public domain. Consequently, a scheme for their estimation is developed herein using basic aerodynamic theory and data correlations. In addition, the basic method is extended to provide estimates for cruise lift-to-drag ratio, engine thrust and engine overall efficiency. This step requires the introduction of two more independent parameters, increasing the total number from six to eight. An error estimate and sensitivity analysis indicates that, in the aircraft’s normal operating range and using the present results, estimates of fuel burn rate are expected to be in error by no more than 5% in the majority of cases. Initial estimates of the characteristic parameters have been generated for 53 aircraft types and engine combinations and a table is provided.

scholarly journals Fluid–structure interaction simulation on flight performance of a dragonfly wing under different pterostigma weights

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 216-229
Author(s):  
Yung Jeh Chu ◽  
Poo Balan Ganesan ◽  
Mohamad Azlin Ali
Keyword(s):  
Optimization Design ◽  
Fluid Structure Interaction ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Fluid Structure ◽  
Structure Interaction ◽  
Dragonfly Wing ◽  
Interaction Simulation ◽  
Wing Performance ◽  
Drag Ratio ◽  
Lift To Drag Ratio

Abstract The dragonfly wings provide insights for designing an efficient biomimetic micro air vehicle (BMAV). In this regard, this study focuses on investigating the effect of the pterostigma weight loading and its spatial location on the forewings of dragonfly by using the fluid–structure interaction simulation. This study also investigates the effect of change in the wing elasticity and density on the wing performance. The forewing, which mimics the real dragonfly wing, is flat with a 47.5 mm span and a 0.4 mm thickness. The wing was set to cruise at 3 m/s with a constant flapping motion at a frequency of 25 Hz. This study shows that a small increase of pterostigma loading (11% of wing weight) at the tip of the wing significantly improves the lift to drag ratio, CL/CD, which has 129.16% increment in comparison with no loading. The lift to drag ratio depends on the pterostigma location, pterostigma loading, elastic modulus and density. The results of this study can be used as a reference in future BMAV wing optimization design.

Aerodynamic study of single corrugated variable-camber morphing aerofoil concept

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
K. Dhileep ◽  
D. Kumar ◽  
P.N. Gautham Vigneswar ◽  
P. Soni ◽  
S. Ghosh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Finite Volume ◽  
Interpolation Method ◽  
Beam Theory ◽  
Small Deformation ◽  
Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Ansys Fluent ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Finite Element Software ◽  
Drag Ratio ◽  
Lift To Drag Ratio

Abstract Camber morphing is an effective way to control the lift generated by any aerofoil and potentially improve the range (as measured by the lift-to-drag ratio) and endurance (as measured by $C_l^{3/2}/C_d$ ). This can be especially useful for fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) undergoing different flying manoeuvres and flight phases. This work investigates the aerodynamic characteristics of the NACA0012 aerofoil morphed using a Single Corrugated Variable-Camber (SCVC) morphing approach. Structural analysis and morphed shapes are obtained based on small-deformation beam theory using chain calculations and validated using finite-element software. The aerofoil is then reconstructed from the camber line using a Radial Basis Function (RBF)-based interpolation method (J.H.S. Fincham and M.I. Friswell, “Aerodynamic optimisation of a camber morphing aerofoil,” Aerosp. Sci. Technol., 2015). The aerodynamic analysis is done by employing two different finite-volume solvers (OpenFOAM and ANSYS-Fluent) and a panel method code (XFoil). Results reveal that the aerodynamic coefficients predicted by the two finite-volume solvers using a fully turbulent flow assumption are similar but differ from those predicted by XFoil. The aerodynamic efficiency and endurance factor of morphed aerofoils indicate that morphing is beneficial at moderate to high lift requirements. Further, the optimal morphing angle increases with an increase in the required lift. Finally, it is observed for a fixed angle-of-attack that an optimum morphing angle exists for which the aerodynamic efficiency becomes maximum.

scholarly journals Walking in simulated reduced gravity: mechanical energy fluctuations and exchange

1999 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 383-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy M. Griffin ◽  
Neil A. Tolani ◽  
Rodger Kram
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Potential Energy ◽  
Gravitational Potential ◽  
Inverted Pendulum ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Metabolic Cost ◽  
Metabolic Energy ◽  
Gravitational Potential Energy ◽  
Reduced Gravity

Walking humans conserve mechanical and, presumably, metabolic energy with an inverted pendulum-like exchange of gravitational potential energy and horizontal kinetic energy. Walking in simulated reduced gravity involves a relatively high metabolic cost, suggesting that the inverted-pendulum mechanism is disrupted because of a mismatch of potential and kinetic energy. We tested this hypothesis by measuring the fluctuations and exchange of mechanical energy of the center of mass at different combinations of velocity and simulated reduced gravity. Subjects walked with smaller fluctuations in horizontal velocity in lower gravity, such that the ratio of horizontal kinetic to gravitational potential energy fluctuations remained constant over a fourfold change in gravity. The amount of exchange, or percent recovery, at 1.00 m/s was not significantly different at 1.00, 0.75, and 0.50 G (average 64.4%), although it decreased to 48% at 0.25 G. As a result, the amount of work performed on the center of mass does not explain the relatively high metabolic cost of walking in simulated reduced gravity.

scholarly journals Research on Cold Core Eddy Change and Phytoplankton Bloom Induced by Typhoons: Case Studies in the South China Sea

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-dong Shang ◽  
Hai-bin Zhu ◽  
Gui-ying Chen ◽  
Chi Xu ◽  
Qi Yang
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Gravitational Potential Energy ◽  
The South ◽  
Chl A ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Slow Transit ◽  
Transit Speed

The effects of 8 typhoons which passed by coldcore eddy (CCE) areas in the South China Sea (SCS) from 1997 to 2009 were observed and evaluated. The changes in the preexisting CCE acted upon by typhoons were described by eddy kinetic energy (EKE) and eddy available gravitational potential energy (EAGPE). The mechanical energy of CCE was estimated from a two-layer reduced gravity model. Comparing with the scenario that typhoon passes by the region without CCEs, the preexisting CCE area plays an important role in the increase of chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration in the CCEs impacted by the typhoons. The preexisting chl-a in CCE is about 25%~45% (8%~25%) of postexisting chl-a in CCE for higher (slower) transit speed typhoons. If the EAGPE of CCE increases greatly after typhoon passing by with slow transit speed, so does the chl-a in the CCE area. The EKE (EAGPE) changes of the preexisting CCE are in the order of O(1014~1015 J). EKE and EAGPE of CCE are dominantly enhanced by typhoon with slow transit speed (<3 m/s) and the posttyphoon EAGPE is always larger than posttyphoon EKE for 8 cases. The maximum EAGPE change of the preexisting CCE reaches5.11×1015 J, which was induced by typhoon Hagibis.

Hydrodynamic Evaluation of a Generic Sail Used in an Innovative Prawn-Trawl Otter Board

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheslav Balash ◽  
David Sterling ◽  
Matt Broadhurst ◽  
Arno Dubois ◽  
Morgan Behrel
Keyword(s):  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Design Feature ◽  
Hydrodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Flat Plates ◽  
Successful Operation ◽  
Six Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Recent Innovation ◽  
Hydrodynamic Evaluation ◽  
Drag Ratio ◽  
Lift To Drag Ratio

In prawn-trawling operations, otter boards provide the horizontal force required to maintain net openings, and are typically low aspect ratio (∼0.5) flat plates operating on the seabed at high angles of attack (AOA; 35–40°). Such characteristics cause otter boards to account for up to 30% of the total trawling resistance, including that from the vessel. A recent innovation is the batwing otter board, which is designed to spread trawls with substantially less towing resistance and benthic impacts. A key design feature is the use of a sail, instead of a flat plate, as the hydrodynamic foil. The superior drag and benthic performance of the batwing is achieved by (i) successful operation at an AOA of ∼20° and (ii) having the heavy sea floor contact shoe in line with the direction of tow. This study investigated the hydrodynamic characteristics of a generic sail by varying its twist and camber, to identify optimal settings for maximum spreading efficiency and stability. Loads in six degrees of freedom were measured at AOAs between 0 and 40° in a flume tank at a constant flow velocity, and with five combinations of twist and camber. The results showed that for the studied sail, the design AOA (20°) provides a suitable compromise between greater efficiency (occurring at lower AOAs) and greater effectiveness (occurring at higher AOAs). At optimum settings (20°, medium camber and twist), a lift-to-drag ratio >3 was achieved, which is ∼3 times more than that of contemporary prawn-trawling otter boards. Such a result implies relative drag reductions of 10–20% for trawling systems, depending on the rig configuration.

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