1

Vehicle Anatomy and

Parameters
Rocket anatomy
Components and parts
Configuration / arrangement
Major rocket parameters
Aircraft anatomy
Components and parts
Configuration / arrangement
Major aircraft parameters

2
Rocket Components and Parts
payload fairing:
protective envelope
around payload
payload adapter: joins
payload to rocket
stage: a complete rocket
unit (propellant,
engine, structure)
tanks: carry oxidizer (no
air in space) and fuel;
integrated into structure
interstage adapter:
structure connecting
stages
nozzles: convert
combustion products
into thrust
3
Rocket Configuration /
Arrangement
stages
single stage multi-stage
thrust arrangement
parallel series
control devices
fins
canards
vanes in
nozzle
gimbaled thrust
4
Major Rocket Parameters
Describe the size of the rocket
US defense agencies use USCS units
NASA, European and Asian companies
use SI units
Takeoff mass [kg], m
0


Propellant mass [kg], m
p

mass of fuel and oxidizer needed
5
Payload mass [kg], m
payload


Mass ratio


Specific impulse [sec], I
sp

f
o
m
m
R =
Major Rocket Parameters
6
Airplane Components and Parts
wings: provide lift
elevators: pitch
control
horizontal stabilizer: longitudinal
(pitch) stability
flaps: provide additional lift
(trailing edge)
ailerons: provide roll
control
spoilers: disrupt flow
(reduce lift & increase
drag)
pylons: attach engines
to aircraft
http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/fltmidparts.htm
7
Airplane Components and Parts
vertical stabilizer (fin): lateral
(yaw) stability
rudder: yaw control
nose gear: ground steering
main gear: support aircraft
weight on ground
nacelles: enclose engines
fuselage: envelope around
payload and crew
8
Describing Aircraft
Configurations
Vertical wing location
high wing mid-wing low wing
Dihedral angle
dihedral flat anhedral
elliptic
Wing planform
rectangular tapered
swept delta
Tail arrangement
conventional T-tail H-tail
triple-tail V-tail
9
Aircraft Configuration /
Arrangement
Wing location


Dihedral


Wing planform


Tail arrangement
General Dynamics F-16
10
Fairchild
Republic A-10
Wing location


Dihedral
Tail arrangement


Wing planform
Aircraft Configuration /
Arrangement
11
AVRO RJX regional jet
Wing location


Dihedral


Wing planform


Tail arrangement
Aircraft Configuration /
Arrangement
12
Major Aircraft Parameters
Describe the size of the aircraft
US aircraft companies use USCS units
European and Asian companies use SI units
Gross weight [lb], W
0
or W
g



Empty weight [lb], W
e

13
Major Aircraft Parameters
Payload weight [lb], W
payload



Crew weight [lb], W
crew



Fuel weight [lb], W
fuel

14
Thrust-to-weight ratio or
Power-to-weight ratio [hp/lb]
0
W
W
e
0
W
T
0
W
P
Major Aircraft Parameters
Empty weight fraction
15
S
b
AR
2
=
Major Aircraft Parameters
Wing area [ft
2
],
S or S
w
planform or projected
area
Wing span [ft], b
tip to tip distance
Aspect ratio, AR
wing shape
16
Major Aircraft Parameters
Wing loading [lb/ft
2
],
W
0
/S
measure of wing size


Wing chord [ft], c
leading edge to
trailing edge distance
at tip, c
tip
at root, c
root
17
Major Aircraft Parameters
Taper ratio,
wing shape



Mean aerodynamic
chord [ft], c
mac

aerodynamic
average
root
tip
c
c
=
|
.
|

\
|
+

+ =
1
1
3
2
root mac
c c