Structural Weight in aircraft design refers to the total weight of all the structural components and materials used to construct an aircraft, including the fuselage, wings, tail, landing gear, and associated structures. It is a critical parameter that affects an aircraft’s overall weight and performance.
Formula: The formula for calculating the structural weight (W_structural) of an aircraft is not a simple equation but rather the sum of the weights of various structural components. It can be expressed as follows:
- W_structural is the total structural weight of the aircraft (in kilograms, kg, or pounds, lb).
- W_fuselage is the weight of the fuselage structure.
- W_wings is the weight of the wings and associated structures.
- W_tail is the weight of the tail surfaces (horizontal and vertical stabilizers).
- W_landing_gear is the weight of the landing gear.
- W_other_components represents the weight of other structural components not listed above.