RCAIDE.Library.Methods.Performance.compute_payload_range_diagram

compute_payload_range_diagram#

compute_payload_range_diagram(mission=None, cruise_segment_tag='cruise', fuel_reserve_percentage=0.0, plot_diagram=True, fuel_name=None)[source]#

Calculate and plot the payload range diagram for an aircraft by modifying the cruise segment and weights.

Parameters:

  • mission (Data) – Data structure containing the mission to be analyzed

  • cruise_segment_tag (str, optional) – String identifier for the cruise segment in the mission Default: “cruise”

  • fuel_reserve_percentage (float, optional) – Fraction of maximum fuel to be reserved (not used for range) Default: 0.0

  • plot_diagram (bool, optional) – Flag to generate payload-range plots Default: True

  • fuel_name (str, optional) – Name of fuel for plot title Default: None

Returns:

payload_range – Data structure containing payload range properties - range : ndarray

Range values for each point [m]

  • payloadndarray

    Payload values for each point [kg]

  • oew_plus_payloadndarray

    Operating empty weight plus payload for each point [kg]

  • fuelndarray

    Fuel weight for each point [kg]

  • takeoff_weightndarray

    Takeoff weight for each point [kg]

  • fuel_reserve_percentagefloat

    Fraction of fuel reserved

Return type:

Data

Notes

Computes three key points for conventional aircraft:

  1. Maximum payload at maximum takeoff weight

  2. Maximum fuel with maximum takeoff weight

  3. Maximum fuel with zero payload (ferry range)

For electric aircraft computes:

  1. Maximum payload range

  2. Ferry range (zero payload)

Major Assumptions

  • Constant cruise speed and altitude

  • Fixed reserve fuel fraction

  • Linear interpolation between payload-range points

  • Battery energy content remains constant (electric aircraft)

Theory The payload-range diagram shows the trade-off between how much payload an aircraft can carry versus how far it can fly. For conventional aircraft, the diagram typically has three segments:

  1. Maximum payload segment: Range increases by burning fuel initially loaded

  2. Maximum fuel segment: Range increases by trading payload for fuel

  3. Ferry range segment: Maximum range with zero payload

For electric aircraft, the diagram is simpler with just two points connected by a straight line, as there is no fuel weight to trade for payload.

See also

RCAIDE.Library.Methods.Performance.conventional_payload_range_diagram, RCAIDE.Library.Methods.Performance.electric_payload_range_diagram

conventional_payload_range_diagram(vehicle, mission, cruise_segment_tag, fuel_reserve_percentage, plot_diagram, fuel_name)[source]#

Calculates and plots the payload range diagram for a fuel-bases aircraft by modifying the cruise segment range and weights of the aicraft .

Sources: N/A

Assumptions: None

Inputs:

vehicle data structure for aircraft [-] mission data structure for mission [-] cruise_segment_tag string of cruise segment [string] fuel_reserve_percentage reserve fuel [unitless]

Outputs:

payload_range data structure of payload range properties [m/s]

electric_payload_range_diagram(vehicle, mission, cruise_segment_tag, plot_diagram)[source]#

Calculates and plots the payload range diagram for an electric aircraft by modifying the cruise segment distance and payload weight of the aicraft .

Sources: N/A

Assumptions: None

Inputs:

vehicle data structure for aircraft [-] mission data structure for mission [-] cruise_segment_tag string of cruise segment [string] fuel_reserve_percentage reserve fuel [unitless]

Outputs:

payload_range data structure of payload range properties [m/s]