CBL - Campus del Baix Llobregat

Projecte llegit

Títol: Comparative Study of Airplane Takeoff Distance Estimation Models and Their Validation

Estudiants que han llegit aquest projecte:

Director/a: ARIAS CALDERÓN, SANTIAGO

Departament: FIS

Títol: Comparative Study of Airplane Takeoff Distance Estimation Models and Their Validation

Data inici oferta: 15-07-2025     Data finalització oferta: 15-03-2026


Estudis d'assignació del projecte:
    GR ENG SIST AEROESP
Tipus: Individual
 
Lloc de realització: EETAC
 
Segon director/a (UPC): TRAPOTE BARREIRA, CÉSAR
 
Paraules clau:
Aircraft takeoff distance, takeoff models, performance validation, operational data
 
Descripció del contingut i pla d'activitats:
This final degree project will focus on an analysis and comparison of various aircraft take-off distance calculation models. By contrasting the theoretical results of these models with actual take-off data, the main objective will be to assess their accuracy and applicability in real-world scenarios.

The first part of the project will involve an in-depth literature review, where current methods used to determine aircraft take-off distances will be examined and discussed.

Next, an aircraft take-off simulation program will be developed or implemented. This tool will allow dynamic modeling of take-off performance under different conditions, providing a flexible framework for analysis.

Afterwards, the selected take-off distance models will be applied to specific aircraft types of interest. Efforts will be made to collect and integrate real operational take-off data to support the comparative study.

A detailed comparative analysis will then evaluate the computed distances from the models against actual operational data. This section will highlight each model's strengths and weaknesses, their predictive capabilities, and their suitability for various operational scenarios.
 
Overview (resum en anglès):
This work develops and compares three modelling approaches for estimating the takeoff ground run of a transport category aircraft, from brake release to lift-off, at Barcelona El Prat Airport. The study is limited to the ground phase and does not include the airborne segment up to the regulatory screen height.

The implemented methods are a numerical step integration model, an analytical integration model, and a constant force approximation model. They are based on the longitudinal force balance during the takeoff run, including thrust, aerodynamic drag, lift, rolling resistance, runway slope, wind effects, atmospheric conditions, and ground effect. The numerical model updates the forces progressively as the aircraft accelerates, whereas the analytical and constant force models use simplified formulations.

The models were implemented in TOPS, a desktop application developed in C Sharp for academic analysis. A representative B737 configuration at Barcelona El Prat Airport was used as the main case study. The results were evaluated through sensitivity analyses of aircraft weight, flap setting, wind, QNH, runway slope, runway condition, temperature, and thrust setting. They were also compared with reference results obtained from a Boeing performance tool.

Results show that all three models reproduce the main expected physical trends. However, the numerical step integration model provides the most consistent results and the closest agreement with the external reference. The analytical and constant force models are useful for simplified analysis, but their assumptions limit their accuracy when several speed dependent effects interact.

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