In the context of aircraft design, the term “mass flow rate” is used to describe the rate at which mass, usually air or fuel, moves through a specific part of the aircraft or its systems. This measurement is often used to calculate and analyze various parameters related to aircraft performance, such as engine airflow, fuel consumption, or hydraulic fluid flow.
The formula for mass flow rate (ṁ) is
- ṁ = Mass flow rate
- ρ = Density of the fluid (e.g., air or fuel)
- A = Cross-sectional area through which the fluid is flowing
- V = Velocity of the fluid