What is area rule in aircraft?

area rule, aircraft design principle formulated by American engineer Richard Whitcomb which stated that the drag on an airplane flying at high speed is a function of the aircraft’s entire cross-sectional area. Related Topics: airplane drag aircraft.

How does area rule work?

The area rule says that two airplanes with the same longitudinal cross-sectional area distribution have the same wave drag, independent of how the area is distributed laterally (i.e. in the fuselage or in the wing). Furthermore, to avoid the formation of strong shock waves, this total area distribution must be smooth.

How are jet engines measured?

The power of an aircraft engine is expressed in newtons, kilograms or pounds of force. The piston engine delivers the power to a shaft that either drives a car or drives a propeller in light aircraft. This is measured in Watts, or horsepower in the old days.

What is the importance of the area rule should be included in the report?

The reason for using the area rule on these fighter aircraft was to reduce the peak value of the drag which occurs at Mach 1 and so enable supersonic speeds with less thrust than would otherwise have been necessary.

What is the area rule of a triangle?

So, the area A of a triangle is given by the formula A=12bh where b is the base and h is the height of the triangle. Example: Find the area of the triangle. The area A of a triangle is given by the formula A=12bh where b is the base and h is the height of the triangle.

What are the parts of a jet engine?

The component parts of a turbojet engine are the inlet, the gas turbine engine, consisting of a compressor, a combustion chamber and a turbine, and the exhaust nozzle. Air is drawn into the engine through the inlet and compressed and heated by the compressor. Fuel is then added in the combustion chamber and ignited.

Can you get sucked into the engine of a plane?

Yes, you can easily get sucked into an operating engine and it can be fatal. When an engine operates, the amount of air getting sucked though its intake can cause a low air pressure area in the surrounding areas and pull you towards it.

Why do you think Richard Whitcomb inventions were such important advances in aircraft design?

His development of the “area rule” revolutionized how engineers looked at high-speed drag and impacted the design of virtually every transonic and supersonic aircraft ever built. In recognition of its far-reaching impact, Whitcomb’s area rule was awarded the 1954 Collier Trophy.

What is the working principle of jet engine?

All jet engines, which are also called gas turbines, work on the same principle. The engine sucks air in at the front with a fan. A compressor raises the pressure of the air. The compressor is made with many blades attached to a shaft.

What is the function of the turbine in a jet engine?

The turbine is at the heart of any jet engine with its primary task being to drive the compressor. As described previously without the compressor no mechanical work would be done on the fluid prior combustion and the thrust produced would only be a function of the chemical energy stored within the fuel.

How to improve the performance of a jet engine?

For simple jet engines the overall performance of the engine is more effectively enhanced by developing the compressor stages. However for large by-pass turbofan engines turbine aerodynamic design is crucial.

What are the limitations of turbojet engines?

The first patents for jet propulsion were issued in 1917. Limitations in design and practical engineering and metallurgy prevented such engines reaching manufacture. The main problems were safety, reliability, weight and, especially, sustained operation. 3. Thermal Efficiency of a Turbojet Engine: