Opera&onal

 limits  
Introduc)on  to  Aeronau)cal  Engineering  
Dr.  ir.  Mark  Voskuijl  

Brazilian  Air  Force–  CC-­‐BY  

Performance  limits  
Al<tude   Thrust  limit   Theore<cal  ceiling  

Stall  limit  
Thrust  limit  

Airspeed  
Opera&onal  limits  

• Design  dive  speed  

• Maximum  Mach  number  

• Structural  limit  of  the  cabin  

Wind  gusts  
Design  diving  speed  

Gust  velocity  
Design  dive  speed  
Al<tude  

Safety  margin  

Airspeed  
Opera&onal  limits  

• Design  dive  speed    

• Maximum  Mach  number  

• Structural  limit  of  the  cabin  

Maximum  Mach  number  

LiJ-­‐drag  polar:  

With:  
An  airfoil  
Maximum  Mach  number  

• Shock  waves  appear  

• Can  cause  buffet  (vibra<ons)  

• The  aerodynamic  center  shiJs  

• Can  cause  a  severe  pitch  mo<on  

• Aerodynamic  control  surfaces  become  less  effec<ve  

 
Maximum  Mach  number  (2)  
Al<tude  

Safety  margin  

Airspeed  
Opera&onal  limits  

• Design  dive  speed    

• Maximum  Mach  number    

 
• Structural  limit  of  the  cabin  
Aircra@  cabin  

Hawkeye  UK  –  CC-­‐BY-­‐SA  

Pressurized  cabin  

decreases  with  al<tude    

Thus  an  al<tude  limit  

Velocity  –  al&tude  diagram  
Al<tude  

Airspeed  
Opera&onal  limits  

• Design  dive  speed    

• Maximum  Mach  number    

 
• Structural  limit  of  the  cabin    
Curves  combined   Thrust  limit  

Al<tude  

Depends  on  weight  

as  well  

Airspeed  
Flight  envelope  
Al<tude  

Airspeed  
Opera&onal  limits  

Brazilian  Air  Force–  CC-­‐BY