The European Air Cargo Research Team (ACRT) from Cranfield University, UK, ENSICA Toulouse, France, and TU Munich, Germany, has studied several novel air cargo system configurations with a dedicated freighter aircraft as a major element. In this contribution a consistent methodology was developed in order to analyse masses, aerodynamics and dynamic stability of a reference configuration out of these studies, called Ecolifter. The methods for geometry visualisation, mass estimation, centre of gravity determination, and moments and products of inertia were outlined as a basis for the estimation of aerodynamic parameters and derivatives of the reference model by means of the Roskam's method. All coefficients and derivatives were analysed for cruise and approach. Both masses and aerodynamics were inputs for the analysis of dynamic stability, followed by a sensitivity analysis regarding flight altitude, parameters of canard, wing and horizontal tail, airplane centre of gravity, and engine positions. With a defined payload distribution and a chosen propulsion model, the bottom-up analysis on weight breakdown showed an MTOW (max. take-off weight) differing 1.3% compared to the initial estimation. The centre of gravity positions of components and the overall airplane resulted in a good flyable range. The resulting dynamic stability behaviour was compared to the values of a Boeing 747-100B with a satisfying correspondence. The stability estimation program developed for this contribution was validated itself by example of a B747-200 version. The sensitivity analyses of Ecolifter showed stable behaviour for all configuration changes, only shifts of the centre of gravity further backward could lead to instabilities in the phugoid mode resulting in some recommendations for configuration improvements regarding dynamic stability. The influences of airplane configuration variations like changes in the geometric data of wing, canard and horizontal tail, engine position, and airplane centre of gravity on the dynamic stability characteristics of the reference configuration have been discussed. Based on the integrated conceptual design, an improved configuration has been developed and an operational weight distribution by the cargo container arrangement has been proposed.


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    Title :

    Analysis methods for novel cargo aircraft concepts


    Additional title:

    Analysemethoden für neuartige Frachtflugzeugkonzepte


    Contributors:
    Tang, S. (author)

    Published in:

    Luftfahrt ; 1-142


    Publication date :

    2002


    Size :

    142 Seiten, Bilder, Tabellen, 120 Quellen



    Type of media :

    Theses


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English





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