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Calcimator

Structural Load Factor Calculator

Calculate structural load factors, ultimate loads, bank angle loads, and margin of safety for aerospace vehicle design.

Inputs

N
N
°

Results

Load Factor (n)

3 g

Margin of Safety

0.15

Ultimate Load Factor4.5 g
Load at Bank Angle2 g
Within Structural Limits1 (1=Yes, 0=No)
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter vehicle weight (N) and maximum aerodynamic lift force (N) at the design condition.
  2. Set the design ultimate load factor and yield safety factor per your certification basis.
  3. Enter bank angle (degrees) for the maneuvering load case.
  4. Review load factor (n), ultimate load factor, and margin of safety for the structure.
  5. Verify the result shows positive margin of safety and is within the structural limit envelope.

How the result changes with Vehicle Weight

Vehicle WeightLoad Factor (n)Margin of Safety
1,000,0010.15 g-0.91
3,500,0010.04 g-0.98
6,500,0000.02 g-0.99
9,000,0000.02 g-0.99

What each input means

Vehicle Weight
Total weight of the vehicle (mass × gravity) in Newtons.
Maximum Lift Force
Maximum aerodynamic lift force the vehicle can generate.
Design Ultimate Factor
Ultimate safety factor applied to limit load. FAR 25 requires 1.5 for transport aircraft.
Yield Safety Factor
Yield safety factor to prevent permanent deformation under limit load.
Bank Angle
Bank angle for turning load calculation. Load factor = 1/cos(φ).

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Vehicle Weight = 50000, Maximum Lift Force = 150000, Design Ultimate Factor = 1.5, Yield Safety Factor = 1.15 = 5 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Load Factor
    Load Factor
    3 = 3
  3. Calculate Margin of Safety
    Margin of Safety
    0.15 = 0.15
  4. Calculate Ultimate Load Factor
    Ultimate Load Factor
    4.5 = 4.5
  5. Calculate Load at Bank Angle
    Load at Bank Angle
    2 = 2

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