In aircraft design, the term “cross-sectional area” for the aircraft structure typically refers to the area perpendicular to the direction of interest. This area can be used to calculate the aerodynamic properties, structural properties, or other characteristics of the aircraft.The formula to calculate the cross-sectional area (A) depends on the shape and the specific section of the structure you are interested in. Here are some examples for common shapes:
- A is the cross-sectional area through which Aircraft Structure (in square meters, m²).
- ṁ is the mass flow rate in kilograms per second (kg/s).
- ρ is the air density in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³).
- V is the velocity of the Aircraft Structure (in meters per second, m/s).