Advantages and Disadvantages of Supersonic Aircraft

REPORT ON ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SUPERSONIC

AIRCRAFTS

Submitted by,
Shishir Shah(153109007),
M.tech(design),
Mechanical engineering,
IIT BOMBAY.
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Supersonic Aircraft

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Supersonic Aircraft

1. Abstract
2.
During 1970, the
first two supersonic aircrafts
entered service, created aviation
excitement. These
supersonic
aircrafts were Concorde and TU
144. The
Concorde
started
operating in 1977 and the TU 144
in 1978. Both aircraft promised to
completely
revolutionize
commercial
transportation,
providing speeds over twice the
speed of sound (around 1100 mph
vs. 500-600 mph for other
commercial
airliners).
Most
thought the supersonic transport
would replace other aircraft, to
become the norm in general
aviation. However, a successful
supersonic aircraft design has to
overcome numerous challenges to
meet opposing requirements. In
this text the history of supersonic
aircraft,
past failures, their
functional requirements, design
challenges,
advantages,
disadvantages
and
mitigation
techniques are presented.
3.
4. Introduction
5.
Supersonic aircraft
are the aircraft that travels with the
speed more than mach 1. Mach 1 is
the speed of sound. The aircraft
travelling with the speed very large
than the speed of sound is known
as hypersonic aircraft (above mach
5). In the current global economy,
where individual companies as well
as business partnerships, transcend
national boundaries, and mandate
collaborations across the globe, the
required time for travel has become
a valuable resource, prompting
interest
in
high
speed

transportation.
Compared
to
todays typical transport aircraft
mission profiles with cruise flight
speeds of Mach M=0.8 and design
ranges of 4000 nautical miles (nm),
up to a 55% time savings can be
achieved by increasing the cruise
speed to M=1.8 [1]. However, a
successful
supersonic
aircraft
design has to overcome numerous
challenges to meet opposing
requirements.
6.
7. History:
8.
60 years ago Chuck
Yeager, captain of United States air
force, broke the sound barrier while
flying his bell X-1 aircraft. That
was the beginning of the
supersonic flight era. Since then,
numerous advances have been
made, from the introduction and
design improvements of military
supersonic jets to the innovation
aimed at passenger supersonic
flight. Concorde was the first
supersonic aircraft used for
passenger travel [2].
9.

10. Fig.1 The Concord Jet

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Supersonic Aircraft

11.
Concorde ceased to fly
from 2003 because of following
reasons.
1. Sonic boom, a very loud
shockwave that sounds a lot
like an explosion when aircraft
breaks the sound barrier.
2. Fall in number of passengers
travel because of high cost.
3. Large amount of fuel used to
propel the aircraft.
4. High maintenance cost.
5. Air
pollution
(exhaust
emission).
12.
13. Functional requirements:
1. The
aerodynamics
of
supersonic
flight
are
dramatically different from
those of subsonic flight (i.e.,
flight at speeds slower than that
of sound). In particular,
aerodynamic drag rises sharply
as the aircraft passes the
transonic regime, requiring
much greater engine power and
more streamlined airframes.
2. To keep drag low, wing span
must be limited, which also
reduces
the
aerodynamic
efficiency when flying slowly.
Since a supersonic aircraft must
take off and land at a relatively
slow speed, its aerodynamic
design must be a compromise
between the requirements for
both ends of the speed range.
3. The structural sizing needs to
balance minimum weight with
adequate safety margin to
support high loads at high
speed.
4. Engine must be compact and
should consume less fuel.

5. The need for efficient fuels is

tied to the need to reduce the
fuel contribution to the weight
of the aircraft, both in terms of
fuel weight and the weight of
the rest of the aircraft using this
fuel for propulsion, because the
weight is a major contributor to
the sonic boom and the drag.
The fuel and propulsion system
also affects the emission levels
of NOx at high altitudes as
well as the cruise efficiency,
leading to changes in aircraft
configuration[2].
6. Environmental constraints are
becoming more and more
stringent. The high altitude
emission should be as low as
possible. Again the sound
produce by supersonic aircraft
while taking and landing
should be within the limit, so
that it is not harmful to human
beings. The sound produce by
sonic boom should also be
less[3].
7. The heat generated by friction
as the air flows over the aircraft
is very high therefore the
material should have the
capacity to withstand the high
temperature.
8. The ticket price should be low.
14.
15. Advantages of supersonic aircraft:
16.
1. The value of time has been
growing,
resulting
in
a
premium being placed on the
ability to get to the destination
faster.
a. Supersonic aircraft reduces
travel time for business
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Supersonic Aircraft

leading
to
increased
productivity.
It
also
shortens travel time for
leisure.
b. It has the ability to provide
rapid response in disaster
situations
and
faster
delivery of time-critical
goods[2].
2.
Supersonic aircraft quickly
delivers the time-critical cargo
which could save lives, as in
the case of organ transplants[2].
3. It is also useful for defence in
military.
a. Supersonic speed with
manoeuvrability provides
amazing
dog
fighting
ability to fighter aircraft.
b. Supersonic aircraft can
quickly and safely attack
enemy targets.
c. Supersonic speed allows
fighter jets to intercept
enemy
airplanes.
Supersonic interceptors can
quickly reach their target if
the target is slow, in a
matter of minutes if they
are close by. (The hijacked
airplanes of 9/11 should
have been intercepted.)
17.
18. Disadvantages:
19.
1. Sonic boom:
20. A major problem, which all
supersonic aircrafts face, is
sonic boom. The term sonic
boom is used to refer to the
shocks
caused
by
the
supersonic flight of an aircraft.
Sonic
booms
generate
enormous amounts of sound
energy, sounding much like an
explosion[4]. Sonic boom is the
reason why supersonic flights

are not allowed over populated

areas.
21.
22.

23. Fig.2 Propagation of sound waves

produced by aircrafts at different speeds

24. When aircraft travels at the

speed less than sound, the
sound it creates will propagate
in all the directions ahead of the
plane as shown in fig.2 when it
travels with mach 1 the wave
propagation is also shown in
fig.2. Now when it travels with
the speed greater than sound, it
travels faster than the sound
wave it creates and it breaks the
sound barrier and it forms the
cone like structure behind the
aircraft as shown in fig.2. The
visual impact of the sonic boom
is shown in fig.3. It is because
of the speed with which aircraft
is travelling causing the
pressure to drop significantly
which in turn reduces the
temperature
causing
condensation in the air.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Supersonic Aircraft

25.

engines. SOx is directly related

to fuel composition.
28.
29. Rough estimates of the
impact of future supersonic
operations
(assuming
500
aircraft flying at Mach 2.4 in
the stratosphere and emitting 15
grams of nitrogen oxides per
kilogram of fuel) indicate an
increase of the North Atlantic
flight corridor concentrations of
NOx up to about 250%, water
vapour up to about 40%, S Ox
up to about 40% , H2S04 up to
about 200%, soot up to about 1
00%, and CO up to about
20%[5].

26. Fig.3 Sonic Boom

1. Emission:
27. Atmospheric effects of
supersonic aircraft depend on
the number of aircraft, the
altitude of operation, the
exhaust emissions, and the
background
chlorine
and
aerosol loading. Emissions
from the engines are functions
of engine technology and the
operation of the aircraft on
which the engines are installed.
Primary
engine
exhaust
products are C02 and H20,
which are directly related to the
burned fuel, with minor
variations due to the precise
carbon-hydrogen ratio of the
fuel.
Secondary
products
include NOx (=NO + N02),
CO, unburned and partially
burnt fuel hydrocarbons (HC),
soot particulates/smoke, and
SOx. NOx is a consequence of
the high temperature in the
engine
combustor;
the
incomplete
combustion
products (CO, HC, and
soot/smoke) are functions of
the engine design and operation
and may vary widely between

30.
31. Since supersonic aircraft
engines may emit significant
amounts of NOx, the fear is
that large fleets of supersonic
aircraft flying at stratospheric
levels, where maximum ozone
concentrations exist, might
seriously
deplete
the
stratospheric
ozone
layer,
leading to increased ultraviolet
radiation flux on the biosphere.
Also, climate sensitivity studies
have shown that ozone changes
in the upper troposphere and
lower stratosphere will have
greater radiative effects on
changing surface and lower
tropospheric temperatures than
would ozone changes at other
levels[5].
32.
1. Climatic Effects:
33.
34. Supersonic
aircraft
emissions include constituents
with the potential to alter the
local and global climate.
Species important in this
respect include water vapor,
NOx (through its impact on

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Supersonic Aircraft

03),
sulfur, soot,
cloud
condensation nuclei, and C02 .
35. Increases of C02 and water
vapor, and alterations of ozone
and cirrus clouds have the
potential to alter in situ and
global climate by changing the
infrared (greenhouse) opacity
of the atmosphere and solar
forcing[5].
36.
37. Sulfuric acid:
38. Sulfuric acid, which results
from SOx emissions, may cool
the climate through producing
aerosols that give increased
scattering of incoming solar
radiation.
39.
40. Effect of ozone depletion:
41. The impact of ozone
changes on the radiation
balance
of
the
surface
troposphere system depends on
the vertical distribution of the
ozone changes. Reduction in
tropospheric
and
lower
stratospheric ozone tends to
cool the climate, by reducing
the atmospheric greenhouse
effect. Reduction in middle and
upper stratospheric ozone tends
to warm the climate, by
allowing
more
shortwave
radiation to reach the surface.
42.
43. Water Vapour:
44. Water vapour is the primary
atmospheric greenhouse gas.
Increases in water vapor
associated
with
aircraft
emissions have the potential to
warm the climate at low
tropospheric
levels,
while
cooling at altitudes of release,
due
to
greater
thermal
emission. The effects are
largest when water vapor
perturbations occur near the

tropopause as is likely to be the

case[5].
1. Some supersonic fighter jets
use afterburners to gain speed,
which can reveal there position
on enemy radar due to heat
signatures.
2. The heat generated by friction
as the air flows over the aircraft
limits the speed of aircraft to
around mach 2.2. It implies that
new material should be
developed such that it should
withstand the heat[6].
3. High Wave Drag, high fuel
consumption/cost[7].
4. Low Subsonic performance,
long
takeoff/landing
distance[7].
45.
46.
47. Mitigation techniques:
48.
1. Sonic boom:
49. The following are some
factors affecting sonic boom
strength[6]:
a. Aircraft weight, shape and
length:
50.
The bigger
the
aircraft is, the more air
molecules push aside. Thus
a big aircraft will produce a
stronger sonic boom.
b. Aircraft altitude:
51.
The altitude of the
aircraft and the strength of
the sonic
boom are
reciprocal. As the altitude
increases, the strength of
the sonic boom decreases.
c. Aircraft maneuvers:
52.
Maneuvers such as
pushovers, S-turns and
accelerating can amplify the
intensity of the shock wave.
Hills, valleys and other
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Supersonic Aircraft

topographic features can

create multiple reflections
of shock waves thus
affecting intensity.
d. Location in sonic boom
carpet [8]:
53.
Special topographic
features in each area such
f.
g.
Quiet Spike project [10]
showed that by extending the
length of the nose, and by changing
the position of the wings, sonic
boom would be reduce to about 55
dB[11]. But the capacity of Quiet
Supersonic Jet suggested by
Gulfstream
is
about
8-11
passengers. Extended and shaped
nose of the aircraft will propagate
the shock waves. The nose will
break up the initial shock into a
series of very weak shocks.
1. Emission:
h. Hydrogen fuel can be used
to reduce the emission and it is
also very light. If more efficient
propulsion systems are created
then smaller amounts of
hydrogen fuel could be used for
the same flight distance.
Hydrogen
fuels
do
not
eliminate pollution, but their
use significantly reduces its
level. Development of new
synthetic fuels that are highly
efficient,
produce
less
pollutants, and are inexpensive
appears
to
be
very
promising[2].
2. The lift/drag ratio of a
supersonic jet is much lower
than that of a subsonic aircraft.
Reducing the drag could in part
be accomplished by reducing
the weight of the aircraft. The

as mountains, hills and

valleys can create multiple
reflections of shock waves
thus affecting intensity.
e. Attitude: orientation of the
aircrafts axes relative to its
direction of motion[9].
54.
new light weight, innovative
composite
materials,
in
particular those that can
withstand high temperatures
could be a part of solution. It is
one of the ways to reduce fuel
needed per passenger-mile[2].
i.

References:

j.
[1] Deremaux, Y., 2009, Why
a Small Size Supersonic Transport
Aircraft? Objectives and Trade-Offs,
HISAC 2009 Conference, Paris.
k.
l.
[2]
Making
the
Small
Supersonic Airliner
m.
a Reality: Obstacles and
Solutions.
n.
Gail M. Krutov, Bard High
School, New York, NY.
o.
NASA
Fundamental
Aeronautics Student Competition
2008-2009 Academic Year.

p.
q.
[3] Joel brezillon, Gerald
carrier
and
Martin
laban,
Multidisciplinary optimization of
supersonic aircraft including lowboom considerations, journal of
mechanical design, ASME, October
2011,vol.133/105001.
r.
s.
[4] Wikipedia, Sonic Boom,
Available
at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_bo
om.
t.
u.
[5] Scientific Assessment of
ozone
depletion:1994.
World
Metrological Organisation Global
Ozone Research And Monitoring
Project-Report No:37( US department
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Supersonic Aircraft

of commence/National Oceanic And

Atmosphereic Administration/NOAA
Research). Chapter 11, book by
A.Wahner and M.A.Geller.
v.
w.
[6]
NASA
Fundamental
Aeronautics Student Competition,
Supersonic
flight
project
by
Emmanuel Vasileios and Dimitrios
Tsounis, high school of Kareas
(Greece).
x.
y.
[7]Toward Zero Sonic-Boom
and High Efficiency Supersonic
Flight: A Novel Concept of
z.
Supersonic
Bi-Directional
Flying Wing. Gecheng Zha, Hongsik
Im , Daniel Espinal,
aa.
University of Miami, Dept. of
Mechanical
and
Aerospace
Engineering,AIAA Paper 2010-1013.
ab.
ac.
[8]Martin
K.
Chan,
Supersonic Aircraft Optimization for
al.

Minimizing Drag and Sonic Boom,

Available
at:
http://aero.stanford.edu/Reports/Marti
nFinalThesis.pdf, 2003
ad.
ae.
[9] David Gallo, AP Physics
project on propagation of sonic boom,
Available at:
af.
http://library.thinkquest.org/12
228/page6.html
ag.
ah.
[10]
NASA,
Supersonic
Jousting, Available at:
ai.
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/ea
rth/improvingflight/supersonic_joustin
g.html Accessed 10 April 2004.
aj.
ak.
[11] Preston A. Henne, Sr VP
Programs, Engineering, & Test
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp Available
at:
http://www.aiaa.org/events/aners/Prese
ntations/ANERS-Henne.pdf, Accessed
May 2005.

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