Abstract
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the result of calculations that were performed to estimate the structural weight of the passenger aircraft using novel technological solution. Mass penalty resulting from the installation of the fuselage boundary layer ingestion device was needed in the CENTRELINE project to be able to estimate the real benefits of the applied technology.Design/methodology/approachThis paper focusses on the finite element analysis (FEA) of the fuselage and wing primary load-carrying structures. Masses obtained in these analyses were used as an input for the total structural mass calculation based on semi-empirical equations.FindingsCombining FEA with semi-empirical equations makes it possible to estimate the mass of structures at an early technology readiness level and gives the possibility of obtaining more accurate results than those obtained using only empirical formulas. The applied methodology allows estimating the mass in case of using unusual structural solutions, which are not covered by formulas available in the literature.Practical implicationsAccurate structural mass estimation is possible at an earlier design stage of the project based on the presented methodology, which allows for easier and less costly changes in designed aircrafts.Originality/valueThe presented methodology is an original method of mass estimation based on a two-track approach. The analytical formulas available in the literature have worked well for aeroplanes of conventional design, but thanks to the connection with FEA presented in this paper, it is possible to estimate the structure mass of aeroplanes using unconventional technological solutions.
Highlights
Air traffic is responsible for a large part of harmful gases emitted to the atmosphere; it is very important from an ecological and economical point of view to design and create effective solutions that will help to reduce the environmental impact caused by aviation
To evaluate the benefits that could be achieved with the fuselage boundary layer ingestion (BLI), it was necessary to estimate the mass penalty owing to the additional support structure needed to carry the masses and loads generated by the propulsor
In this paper the methodology was presented leading to more accurate estimation of the aircraft structure mass at the conceptual design stage, than in case of using empirical equations only
Summary
Air traffic is responsible for a large part of harmful gases emitted to the atmosphere; it is very important from an ecological and economical point of view to design and create effective solutions that will help to reduce the environmental impact caused by aviation. Organisations such as the European Commission (EC) put a great emphasis on the protection of the natural environment and formulate more and more stringent standards and restrictions, what accelerates the creation of new technological solutions. Weight estimation of a passenger aircraft Mariusz Kowalski, Zdobyslaw Jan Goraj and Bartłomiej Goliszek
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