Subject: Time to climb engine torque
From: "rotaryeng@earthlink.net" <rotaryeng@earthlink.net>
Date: 11/8/2015, 10:18 AM
To: A10-me-earthlink



   Spoke to Jim Mederer the engine builder
   today and got some HP numbers at a couple
   of engine RPMs. 600 HP at 6000 RPM. 650 HP
   at 8500 RPM. 8500 RPM is 2833 prop RPM.
   Not likely with an 84 inch prop
   diameter. Lets assume it is 6000
   engine RPM and 2000 prop RPM.

   The actual numbers will be some where
   between these two.

   HP = Torque x RPM รท 5252
   5252 x HP = Tor x RPM
   5252 x HP = 3151200

   3151200/ 6000 = 525.2 foot pounds of torque.
   We have a 3:1 gear box so prop torque
   is 1575 foot pounds.

   Running the engine up on the ground assuming
   a 10 foot distance between the main tires
   157 pounds off one tire and 157 pounds
   on the other.

   Assume for the moment the weight is
   1000 pounds. One tire has 657 pounds
   on it and the other only 343 pounds.
   With the right set of scales one can
   measure the torque with this method and work
   back to get the HP if the engine RPM is known.

   Assuming the centre of lift on the wings
   is 15 feet apart that is 105 pounds up
   one wing and 105 pounds down on the other.
   the dynamic pressure at 50 MPH is 6.5 pounds
   per square foot. The cord is about 4 feet
   and the wing is about 10 feet long. So the
   wing area is about 40 square feet each wing.

   Lift is wing area times dynamic pressure
   times lift coef.

   To get off the ground at 50 MPH we need
   1000 pounds of lift total.

   1000 = 6.5 x 80 x Lift-Coef.
   6.5 x 80 is 520.
   1000 / 520 = 1.9 for the Lift-Coef.

   Not likely so we are going to need
   more speed to get off the ground.

   Dynamic pressure at 60 MPH is 9.36

   So 1000 = 9.36 x 80 x Lift-Coef

   9.36 x 80 is 748

   So 1000/748 is 1.3 for the Lift-Coef.
   Possibly.

   Now we need 105 pounds more lift on one wing
   and 105 pounds less on the other.

   No torque we got 500 pounds on each
   wing.

   With torque we have 600 pounds on one
   wing and 400 pounds on the other.

   We need a lift coef of 1.56 on one
   wing. Not likely to happen so we cannot
   lift it off at 60 MPH. My guess is at least
   70 MPH and maybe 75 MPH would be safe.

   Not too serious as this thing is going
   to accelerate like it was shot out of a cannon :-)
   It is all going to happen in a very few seconds.

   These are rough calculations so one can
   get a feel for the take off problem.

   Check my logic and math as I have been known
   to make mistakes.

   Paul Lamar


   How far outboard of the wing root are the RV8 wing fuel tanks, maybe fill up one side more, the other less to compensate somewhat, might buy you a few mph less.

   Alex Molteno

   That would sure help if we were running gasoline in the stock tanks.

   We are using alcohol and that may affect the stock tank sealant. We are
   not taking that chance as we have a 21 gallon tank just behind the firewall.
   It has been tested with the alcohol long term.


   Paul Lamar

   Perhaps it is a little too early in the morning for me ...
   And perhaps I am getting confused with pitching-moment calculations when
   doing weight/balance .... But in your email on torque calculations you
   said

   "Running the engine up on the ground assuming
   a 10 foot distance between the main tires
   157 pounds off one tire and 157 pounds
   on the other."

   It seems to me that one must look at the difference between these two
   reading; in other words, engine torque of a whopping 3140 ft-pounds
   would cause 157+ on one wheel, and 157- on the other wheel.

   Tell me where my thinking is wrong

   RBerglund



   Is that not what I said ?

   So far I cannot see the distinction.

   500 -157 and 500 + 157

   The prop torque is 1575 foot pounds.

   Paul Lamar

At propeller torque of  1575 ft lbs (3151200 / 2000 rpm, (not 3140 ft lbs))
that is supported by 10 ft apart wheels we have 157 lbs at 10 ft distance.
I would think it is + 79 lb on one wheel and - 79 lbs on the other a for total
difference of 157 lbs. That is how I see it. Comments?

Regards, Rolf Pfeiffer

Assume one wheel is tide down and can't deflect the scale.

In that case I think you are right. I was wrong. Thanks for catching that.

Paul Lamar

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