Flight dynamics-I Prof. E.G.

Tulapurkara
Chapter-5

Chapter 5
Lecture 18

Performance analysis I – Steady level flight – 2

Topics

5.6 Thrust and power required in steady level flight when drag
polar is independent of Mach number
5.7 Thrust and power required in steady level flight – consideration of
parabolic polar

5.6 Thrust and power required in steady level flight when drag polar is
independent of Mach number
When the Mach number is less than about 0.7, the drag polar is generally
3/2
independent of Mach number. In this case, CD / CL and CD / CL can be

calculated for different values of CL. The curves shown in Figs.5.4a and b are
3/2
obtained by plotting CD / CL and CD / CL as functions of CL. From these curves

it is observed that CD / CL is minimum at a certain value of CL. This CL is denoted

by CLmd as the drag is minimum at this CL. The power required is minimum when
3/2
CD / CL is minimum. The CL at which this occurs is denoted by CLmp . Thus in

steady level flight:

Trmin = W (CD / CL)min (5.7)

 
2W 3  CD 
Prmin = (5.8)
ρS  C3/2 
 L min

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Flight dynamics-I Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Chapter-5

Fig.5.4a Variation of CD / CL with CL

3/2
Fig.5.4b Variation of CD / CL with CL

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Flight dynamics-I Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Chapter-5

The speeds, at which the drag and the power required are minimum, are denoted
by Vmd and Vmp respectively. The expressions for Vmd and Vmp are:

2W 2W
Vmd = , Vmp = (5.9)
ρSCLmd ρS CLmp

Note:
i) CLmd and CLmp are not equal and the corresponding speeds are different. As the

density occurs in the denominator of Eq.(5.9), it implies that Vmd and Vmp

increase with altitude.

ii) Since for Mach number is lower than about 0.7, the drag polar is assumed to
be independent of Mach number, the values of CLmd, CLmp , (CD / CL)min and

(CD / C L 3/2)min are also independent of Mach number. From Eqs.(5.7) and (5.8) it

is seen that Trmin is independent of altitude whereas Prmin increases with altitude
1/2
in proportion to 1/ σ .
iii) It is also observed in Fig.5.4a that a line drawn parallel to the X-axis cuts the
curve at two points A and B. This shows that for the same value of CD / CL or the

thrust {Tr = W(CD / CL) }, an airplane can have steady level flight at two values of

lift coefficients viz. CLA and CLB. From Eq.(5.2) each value of CL corresponds to a

velocity. Hence for the same amount of thrust, in general, flight is possible at two
speeds (VA and VB). These speeds are:
1/2 1/2
VA= (2W / ρSCLA) , VB = (2W / ρSCLB) (5.9a)

Similarly, from Fig.5.4b it is observed that with the same power, in general, level
flight is possible at two values of lift coefficient viz. CLA and CLB and

correspondingly at two flight speeds viz. VA and VB .

iii) Typical variations of thrust required with flight speed and altitude are shown in
Fig.5.5. Following interesting observations are made in this case where the drag
polar is independent of Mach number. From Eq.(5.7) the minimum drag depends

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Flight dynamics-I Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Chapter-5
only on W and (CD / CL)min and hence is independent of altitude. However, the

speed corresponding to minimum drag ( Vmd ) increases with altitude (Eq.5.9).

Hence, the thrust required curves at various altitudes have the same minimum
thrust at all altitudes and the curves have a horizontal line, corresponding to
T = Trmin , as a common tangent (see Fig.5.5). This feature should be kept in

mind when thrust required curves for subsonic airplanes are plotted.

Fig.5.5 Thrust required and thrust available for subsonic jet airplane

iv) Typical variations of power required with flight speed and altitude are shown
in Fig.5.6a. Interesting observations are made in this case also. From Eq.(5.8)
the minimum power required (Prmin) depends on W3/2 , (CD/CL3/2)min and ρ-1/2 .
From Eq.(5.9) it is observed that Vmp depends on ρ-1/2 . Noting that for airplanes

with piston engine or turboprop engine, the flight Mach number is less than 0.7,
the drag polar is independent of Mach number. However, due to dependence on
ρ-1/2 , the Prmin and Vmp increase with altitude (Fig.5.6a) . It may be added that

the slope of a line, joining a point on the Pr vs V curve and the origin, is Pr / V or
Tr. However, as pointed out earlier, Tr has a minimum value (Trmin) which is

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Flight dynamics-I Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Chapter-5
independent of altitude. Hence, all Pr vs. V curves have a common tangent
passing through the origin. Such a tangent is shown in Fig.5.6a. This feature
should be pointed out when Pr vs. V curves are plotted at different altitudes. Note
that the common tangent to Pr vs. V curves does not touch at Vmp but at Vmd.

Fig.5.6a Power required and power available curves

Fig.5.6b Power required and power available at an altitude near ceiling

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Flight dynamics-I Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Chapter-5

5.7 Thrust and power required in steady level flight – consideration of

parabolic drag polar
The discussion in section 5.6, was with reference to a general drag polar
which may be given in tabular form or a plot. Consider the parabolic polar given
by :

CD = CD0 + KCL2 (5.10)

Since an equation is available for the drag polar, it is possible to obtain

mathematical expressions for the power required and thrust required. In this
section it is assumed that CDO and K are constant with Mach number.

Substituting for CD in expression for thrust required gives:

2
Tr = D = (1/2)ρV2SCD = (1/2) ρV S (CD0+KCL2) (5.11)

Substituting for CL as W /{(1/2)ρV2S} in Eq.(5.11) yields:

   
2
  2W 
1
Tr = ρ V 2 S CDo + K  
2  1 2  
 ρV S 
 2  

1
Or Tr = ρ V 2 SCDO + 2 KW 2 / (ρV 2S) (5.12)
2

In Eq.(5.12) the first term (½) ρ V2 S CD0 is called ‘Parasite drag’. The second
2 2
term 2 K W / (ρV S) is called ‘Induced drag’. Typical variations of the parasite
drag, induced drag and total drag are shown in Fig.5.7.

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Flight dynamics-I Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Chapter-5

Fig.5.7 Variation of drag with flight speed

2
It is observed that from Fig.5.7 that the parasite drag, being proportional to V ,
2
increases rapidly with speed. The induced drag being proportional to 1/ V is high
at low speeds but decreases rapidly as speed increases. The total drag, which is
the sum of the induced drag and the parasite drag, is approximately equal to
induced drag at low speeds and approaches parasite drag at high speeds. It has
a minimum value at a speed (Vmd) where the parasite drag and induced drag are

equal to each other (Fig.5.7). This can be verified by differentiating Eq.(5.12) with
respect to V and equating it to zero i.e.

dTr 2KW 2 (-2)

= ρ Vmd S C D0 + =0
dV ρS V 3
md
1 1/4
 2W  2  K 
Or Vmd =     (5.13)
 ρS   CD0 

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Chapter-5

Substituting Vmd in Eq.(5.12) gives minimum thrust required i.e.

Trmin = W (CD0 K)1/2+W(CD0K)1/2 = 2W(CD0 K)1/2 (5.14)

From Eq.(5.14) it is observed that when V equals Vmd , the parasite drag and

induced drag both are equal to W (CD0 K)1/2. This is also shown in Fig.5.7.

Expression for power required in the present case is given by :

Tr V 1 1
Pr = = ρV3SCD
1000 1000 2
Substituting for CD from Eq.5.10 gives:

1 1
Pr = ρ V3 S [CD0 + KCL2 ]
1000 2
1 1 W
Or Pr = ρ V3 S [CD0+ K ( )2 ]
1000 2 2
1 ρV S
2

1 1 KW2
Or Pr = ρV3S CD0 + (5.15)
2000 500 ρVS
The first term in Eq.(5.15) is called ‘Parasite power’ and the second term is called
‘Induced power’. The variations with flight velocity (V) of induced power, parasite
power and the total power required are shown in Fig.5.8.
It is observed that the minimum power occurs at a speed, Vmp , at which the

induced power is three times the parasite power. This can be verified by
differentiating Eq.(5.15) with respect to V and equating it to zero. The verification
is left as an exercise to the student.
1/2 1/4
 2W   K 
Vmp =     (5.16)
 ρS   3CDo 
1/2 1/4
1  2W3   256
Prmin =   C K3 (5.17)
 ρS   Do 
1000  27 
 

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Chapter-5

Fig.5.8 Variation of power required with flight speed

Remarks:
i) The expressions given in Eqs.(5.13) and (5.14) can be obtained in the following
alternate way.
Tr = W (CD / CL)

Hence, Trmin = W (CD / CL)min (5.18)

But, for a parabolic polar

CD CD0
= + K CL (5.19)
CL CL
The value of CL at which (CD / CL) is minimum i.e. (CLmd) is given by :

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Flight dynamics-I Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Chapter-5
d(CD /CL ) C
= 0 or - D0 + K = 0
dCL C2
Lmd
This gives CLmd as:
1/2
CLmd = (CDo / K) (5.20)

The corresponding drag coefficient, CDmd is

KCDO
CDmd = CDO + = 2CDO (5.21)
K
Equation (5.21) shows that when Tr equals Tmin, both parasite drag coefficient

and induced drag coefficient are equal to CDO . Hence under this condition, the
2
parasite drag and induced drag both are equal to (1/2)ρ V S CDO .

Further,
 CD  C 2CDO 1
  = Dmd = = 2 (CDO K) 2 (5.22)
 CL min CLmd  CDO / K  2
1

Hence, Trmin and Vmd are:

2W 1/2
Trmin = 2 W (CDO K)1/2 and Vmd = ( ) (K / CDO )1/4 ,
ρS
which are the same as Eqs.(5.14) & (5.13).
(ii) Exercise 5.4 gives expressions for Tr in terms of V/Vmd and Trmin.
(iii) Similarly, expressions given in Eqs.(5.16) and (5.17) can be obtained in the
following alternate manner.
1/2
1  2W 3  CD
Pr =  
1000  ρS  C3/2
  L
3/2
Hence, Prmin occurs when CD/CL is minimum. For a parabolic polar

CD C
= DO + K C1/2
L
C3/2 C3/2
L L
Therefore,

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Chapter-5


d CD / C3/2
L  = -3 C DO
+
1 K
dCL 2 C 5/2 2 C 21
L L
Equating the R.H.S. to zero, the value of CL at which the power required is

minimum ( CLmp ) is given as:

1/2
CLmp = (3 CDO / K) (5.23)

Then the drag coefficient, corresponding to CLmp is given by:

3K CDO
CDmp = CDO + = 4 CDO (5.24)
K
Equation (5.24) shows that when Pr equals Prmin the parasite drag coefficient is

equal to CDO and the induced drag coefficient is equal to 3 CDO . Consequently,
3
the parasite power is (1/2) ρ V S CDO and induced power is 3 times of that.

Hence,
  1/4
 CD  4CDO  256 
= = CDO K 3  (5.24a)
 C3/2  (3CDO / K)3/4  27 
 L min

 2W 
1/2 1/2 1/4
 2W   K  1
Vmp =   =    = Vmd  0.76 Vmd (5.24b)
 ρSCLmp   ρS   3 CDO  31/4
 
The above expression for Vmp is the same as in Eq.(5.16).

Example 5.1
An airplane weighing 100,000 N is powered by an engine producing
20,000 N of thrust under sea level standard conditions. If the wing area be
25 m2 , calculate (a) stalling speeds at sea level and at 10 km altitude,
(b) (CD / CL)min, (CD / CL3/2 )min, Trmin, Prmin, Vmd and Vmp under sea level

conditions.
Assume CLmax = 1.5, CD = 0.016 + 0.064 CL2 .

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Chapter-5
Solution:
2
The given data are : W = 100,000 N, T = 20,000 N, CD = 0.016 + 0.064 CL ,
2
S = 25 m , CLmax =1.5

2W
a) VS = ,
ρSCLmax
3
at s.l. ρ = 1.225 kg/m ,
3
at 10 km  = 0.413 kg / m

2 × 100000
Hence, at sea level, VS = = 66 m/s = 237.6 kmph
1.225 × 25 × 1.5

2 × 100000
At 10 km altitude, VS = = 113.6 m/s = 409.0 kmph.
0.413 × 25× 1.5

CD0
b) CLmd = = 0.016/0.064 = 0.5
K
CDmd = 2 CDO = 0.032

Hence, (CD / CL)min = 0.032/0.5 = 0.064 and

Trmin = W (CD / CL)min = 100000 x 0.064 = 6400 N

CLmp = 3CDO /K = 0.866

CDmp = 4CDO = 0.064

(CD / C3/2 )min = 0.064/0.8663/2 = 0.0794

L
2W 2 ×100000
Vmd = = = 114.5 m/s = 412.2 kmph
ρ S CLmd 1.225× 25 ×0.5

2 ×100000
Vmp = = 86.30 m/s = 310.7 kmph
1.225× 25 ×0.866
1/4
Note: Vmp = Vmd / 3

Prmin =
1
1000
2W 3
ρS 
CD / C3/2 =
1
L min 1000  2 × 1000003
1.225 × 25
× 0.0794 = 641.5 kW.

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Flight dynamics-I Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Chapter-5
Answers :
a) VS at sea level = 237.6 kmph

VS at 10 km altitude = 409.0 kmph

b) (CD / CL)min = 0.064 ; (CD / C3/2 )min = 0.0794 ; Trmin = 6400 N

L
At sea level : Prmin = 641.5 kW; Vmd = 412.2 kmph; Vmp = 310.7 kmph

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