22nd Congress of International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Harrogate, UK, 28 August - 1st September, 2000
Paper ICAS 2000-4.7.4

A CARBON COMPOSITE DIVERGING VERTICAL TAIL FOR COMMERCIAL AIRPLANES

V. Venkayya (1), V. Tischler (1), O. Sensburg (2), T. Schweiger (2)
(1) Air Force Research Laboratory, US; (2) Daimler Chrysler Aerospace, Germany

Keywords: carbon composite, vertical tail, airplanes

Carbon fiber vertical tails are not an unusual design feature for modern commercial airplanes. In this design study it is shown that with proper aeroelastic tailoring a vertical tail can achieve a directional stability derivative which is thirty percent higher than that of a rigid tail. Using this design feature the span and weight can be reduced accordingly

view full paper