The characteristics of optimum fixed-range trajectories whose structure is constrained to climb, steady cruise, and descent segments are derived by application of optimal control theory. The performance function consists of the sum of fuel and time costs, referred to as direct operating cost (DOC). The state variable is range to go and the independent variable is energy. In this formulation a cruise segment always occurs at the optimum cruise energy for sufficiently large range. At short ranges (400 n. mi. and less), a cruise segment may also occur below the optimum cruise energy. The existence of such a cruise segment depends primarily on the fuel flow vs thrust characteristics and on thrust constraints. If thrust is a free control variable along with airspeed, it is shown that such cruise segments will not generally occur. If thrust is constrained to some maximum value in climb and to some minimum in descent, such cruise segments generally will occur.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Optimum climb and descent trajectories for airline missions


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    1981-07-01


    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





    Optimum transitions in climb/cruise/descent for hypersonic cruise vehicles

    KAUFFMAN, H. / GRANDHI, R. / HANKEY, W. et al. | AIAA | 1991


    Climb and Descent Aerodynamics

    Swatton, P. J. | Wiley | 2010


    Optimum supersonic climb

    Vinh, Nguyen / Tzeng, Yih-Feng | AIAA | 1994


    Optimum Supersonic Climb

    Vinh, N. / Tzeng, Y.-F. / AIAA | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1994