Integrating New Technology into Weight Methodology

An ever present problem is to introduce advanced technology into methods to predict the weight of a new design. Two Methods to determine the effects of new technology on rotorcraft weights are given: one for structural boxes, and one for drive system modification. The structural box approach has applications to wings and tails and is unique since only one equation includes the effects of simultaneous bending and torsion loads, rib spacing, and loading intensity. The drive system method uses a detailed but simple weight estimation for each main mesh plus effects of shaft material and number of couplings. These methods are used to modify existing trends to include the effects of new technology.