3494. An Error Propagation Analysis of Small Engine Mass Properties Measurements
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Paper
Abstract
This paper investigates the impact of measurement error propagation on the accuracy of calculated weights and centers of gravity of small turbofan engines. Three variations of the two-load-cell crane-and-cable weighing technique were explored. The potential sources of measurement error were identified and analytical expressions for calculating the total error in the weight and center of gravity calculations were derived. A generic engine example was used to conduct a sensitivity analysis to illustrate the magnitude of error that could result from various weighing configurations. Results show that incorrect mass properties values can have an effect on modern aircraft flying qualities, such as fuel burn, aircraft handling, and trim.
