RCAIDE.Library.Methods.Mass_Properties.Weight_Buildups.Conventional.Transport.Raymer.compute_vertical_tail_weight

compute_vertical_tail_weight#

compute_vertical_tail_weight(vehicle, wing, settings)[source]#

Calculates vertical tail weight using Raymer’s empirical method.

Parameters:

vehicle (RCAIDE.Vehicle()) –
Vehicle data structure containing:
- mass_properties.max_takeofffloat
  Maximum takeoff weight [kg]
- flight_envelope.ultimate_loadfloat
  Ultimate load factor
- wings[‘main_wing’]Data()
  
  Main wing properties:
  
  originarray
  Root location [m]
  
  aerodynamic_centerarray
  Location of aerodynamic center [m]
wing (RCAIDE.Component()) –
Vertical tail component containing:
- t_tailbool
  T-tail configuration flag
- areas.referencefloat
  Reference area [m^2]
- originarray
  Root location [m]
- aerodynamic_centerarray
  Location of aerodynamic center [m]
- sweeps.quarter_chordfloat
  Quarter chord sweep angle [rad]
- aspect_ratiofloat
  Aspect ratio
- thickness_to_chordfloat
  Thickness-to-chord ratio

Returns:

tail_weight – Weight of the vertical tail [kg]

Return type:

float

Notes

This method implements Raymer’s correlation for transport aircraft vertical tail weight estimation, accounting for geometry, loads, and configuration effects.

Major Assumptions

T-tail configuration handled through multiplier
Correlation based on transport category aircraft data
If advanced composites are used, the vertical tail weight is reduced by 15%

Theory The vertical tail weight is calculated using: .. math:

W_{vt} = 0.0026(1 + H_t)^{0.225}W_{dg}^{0.556}N_{ult}^{0.536}L_t^{-0.5}S_{vt}^{0.5}K_z^{0.875}\cos(\Lambda)^{-1}AR^{0.35}(t/c)^{-0.5}

where:

\(H_t\) is T-tail factor (0 or 1)
\(W_{dg}\) is design gross weight
\(N_{ult}\) is ultimate load factor
\(L_t\) is tail arm length
\(S_{vt}\) is vertical tail area
\(K_z\) is vertical tail arm
\(\Lambda\) is quarter-chord sweep
\(AR\) is aspect ratio
\(t/c\) is thickness ratio

References

[1] Raymer, D., “Aircraft Design: A Conceptual Approach”, AIAA: Education Series, 2018.

compute_vertical_tail_weight#

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