What is a rubber engine?











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I hear it a lot in engine design , I think that belongs to some phase about we can change the engine parameters according to requirements but I am not sure about it.










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    up vote
    26
    down vote

    favorite












    I hear it a lot in engine design , I think that belongs to some phase about we can change the engine parameters according to requirements but I am not sure about it.










    share|improve this question


























      up vote
      26
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      26
      down vote

      favorite











      I hear it a lot in engine design , I think that belongs to some phase about we can change the engine parameters according to requirements but I am not sure about it.










      share|improve this question















      I hear it a lot in engine design , I think that belongs to some phase about we can change the engine parameters according to requirements but I am not sure about it.







      engine terminology






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      edited yesterday









      kevin

      27.4k796225




      27.4k796225










      asked 2 days ago









      deniz can elçi

      13124




      13124






















          2 Answers
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          up vote
          40
          down vote













          A rubber engine is not to be confused with a rubber motor (a rubber band which is twisted in order to store energy which can be released when the rubber band untwists. This type of engine is good for short energy bursts in small model airplanes).



          A rubber engine is an engine deck (tables of engine data) which can be scaled according to your needs. In a way, you stretch one parameter of the data like a rubber band, and all other parameters change accordingly. In most cases, you adjust thrust to your needs and the scaled engine deck will produce mass, size and fuel consumption for the most likely actual engine with the given thrust. This is very helpful in the initial stages of engine design when you search for the smallest possible airframe to fulfil given mission requirements.






          share|improve this answer

















          • 7




            So, just to make sure I understand correctly, a "rubber engine" is a particular type of data table?
            – Tanner Swett
            yesterday






          • 3




            @TannerSwett - that's correct. It's not a "physical device".
            – Fattie
            yesterday


















          up vote
          18
          down vote













          I intended to make this a comment on Peter Kämpf's answer, but don't have enough reputation.



          In my engineering education, a "rubber engine" referred to an engine with variable parameters. A "fixed engine" referred to a specific engine with well-defined parameters, for example "Lycoming O-235-F1." In general, you use a rubber engine in aircraft design when you know generally what type of aircraft you're working on, e.g. a single engine piston-propeller or a multi-engine turboprop, and you just need values that are "good enough" without restricting your design to a specific model. Once you have an idea of what the aircraft's parameters are going to be, you can select a specific engine model and modify the rest of the design to work with the newly-restricted engine.



          It's not as restrictive of a definition as a type of data table; it can be as simple as having single numbers for power, fuel consumption, weight, etc.






          share|improve this answer

















          • 5




            Basically a "rubber engine" is a concept. It's the idea that your plane has an engine, but it doesn't have locked-in specs.
            – Nelson
            yesterday










          • "Single numbers" can be viewed as a (small) table, so Peter's answer still applies.
            – Carl Witthoft
            yesterday










          • @CarlWitthoft Yes, Peter's answer does still apply, I only wanted to point out that one doesn't need to generate/have "tables of engine data" (i.e. more than one set of numbers) to employ the rubber engine concept. Additionally, single parameters can be modified without having "all other parameters change accordingly." While scaling the other parameters might be a good idea, ultimately it's up to the designer to keep the engine specifications reasonable. Peter's answer is correct, but in my opinion might convey too strict of a definition of what the rubber engine concept is intended to be.
            – zaen
            23 hours ago











          Your Answer





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          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

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          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

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          active

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          active

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          up vote
          40
          down vote













          A rubber engine is not to be confused with a rubber motor (a rubber band which is twisted in order to store energy which can be released when the rubber band untwists. This type of engine is good for short energy bursts in small model airplanes).



          A rubber engine is an engine deck (tables of engine data) which can be scaled according to your needs. In a way, you stretch one parameter of the data like a rubber band, and all other parameters change accordingly. In most cases, you adjust thrust to your needs and the scaled engine deck will produce mass, size and fuel consumption for the most likely actual engine with the given thrust. This is very helpful in the initial stages of engine design when you search for the smallest possible airframe to fulfil given mission requirements.






          share|improve this answer

















          • 7




            So, just to make sure I understand correctly, a "rubber engine" is a particular type of data table?
            – Tanner Swett
            yesterday






          • 3




            @TannerSwett - that's correct. It's not a "physical device".
            – Fattie
            yesterday















          up vote
          40
          down vote













          A rubber engine is not to be confused with a rubber motor (a rubber band which is twisted in order to store energy which can be released when the rubber band untwists. This type of engine is good for short energy bursts in small model airplanes).



          A rubber engine is an engine deck (tables of engine data) which can be scaled according to your needs. In a way, you stretch one parameter of the data like a rubber band, and all other parameters change accordingly. In most cases, you adjust thrust to your needs and the scaled engine deck will produce mass, size and fuel consumption for the most likely actual engine with the given thrust. This is very helpful in the initial stages of engine design when you search for the smallest possible airframe to fulfil given mission requirements.






          share|improve this answer

















          • 7




            So, just to make sure I understand correctly, a "rubber engine" is a particular type of data table?
            – Tanner Swett
            yesterday






          • 3




            @TannerSwett - that's correct. It's not a "physical device".
            – Fattie
            yesterday













          up vote
          40
          down vote










          up vote
          40
          down vote









          A rubber engine is not to be confused with a rubber motor (a rubber band which is twisted in order to store energy which can be released when the rubber band untwists. This type of engine is good for short energy bursts in small model airplanes).



          A rubber engine is an engine deck (tables of engine data) which can be scaled according to your needs. In a way, you stretch one parameter of the data like a rubber band, and all other parameters change accordingly. In most cases, you adjust thrust to your needs and the scaled engine deck will produce mass, size and fuel consumption for the most likely actual engine with the given thrust. This is very helpful in the initial stages of engine design when you search for the smallest possible airframe to fulfil given mission requirements.






          share|improve this answer












          A rubber engine is not to be confused with a rubber motor (a rubber band which is twisted in order to store energy which can be released when the rubber band untwists. This type of engine is good for short energy bursts in small model airplanes).



          A rubber engine is an engine deck (tables of engine data) which can be scaled according to your needs. In a way, you stretch one parameter of the data like a rubber band, and all other parameters change accordingly. In most cases, you adjust thrust to your needs and the scaled engine deck will produce mass, size and fuel consumption for the most likely actual engine with the given thrust. This is very helpful in the initial stages of engine design when you search for the smallest possible airframe to fulfil given mission requirements.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 2 days ago









          Peter Kämpf

          154k11379616




          154k11379616








          • 7




            So, just to make sure I understand correctly, a "rubber engine" is a particular type of data table?
            – Tanner Swett
            yesterday






          • 3




            @TannerSwett - that's correct. It's not a "physical device".
            – Fattie
            yesterday














          • 7




            So, just to make sure I understand correctly, a "rubber engine" is a particular type of data table?
            – Tanner Swett
            yesterday






          • 3




            @TannerSwett - that's correct. It's not a "physical device".
            – Fattie
            yesterday








          7




          7




          So, just to make sure I understand correctly, a "rubber engine" is a particular type of data table?
          – Tanner Swett
          yesterday




          So, just to make sure I understand correctly, a "rubber engine" is a particular type of data table?
          – Tanner Swett
          yesterday




          3




          3




          @TannerSwett - that's correct. It's not a "physical device".
          – Fattie
          yesterday




          @TannerSwett - that's correct. It's not a "physical device".
          – Fattie
          yesterday










          up vote
          18
          down vote













          I intended to make this a comment on Peter Kämpf's answer, but don't have enough reputation.



          In my engineering education, a "rubber engine" referred to an engine with variable parameters. A "fixed engine" referred to a specific engine with well-defined parameters, for example "Lycoming O-235-F1." In general, you use a rubber engine in aircraft design when you know generally what type of aircraft you're working on, e.g. a single engine piston-propeller or a multi-engine turboprop, and you just need values that are "good enough" without restricting your design to a specific model. Once you have an idea of what the aircraft's parameters are going to be, you can select a specific engine model and modify the rest of the design to work with the newly-restricted engine.



          It's not as restrictive of a definition as a type of data table; it can be as simple as having single numbers for power, fuel consumption, weight, etc.






          share|improve this answer

















          • 5




            Basically a "rubber engine" is a concept. It's the idea that your plane has an engine, but it doesn't have locked-in specs.
            – Nelson
            yesterday










          • "Single numbers" can be viewed as a (small) table, so Peter's answer still applies.
            – Carl Witthoft
            yesterday










          • @CarlWitthoft Yes, Peter's answer does still apply, I only wanted to point out that one doesn't need to generate/have "tables of engine data" (i.e. more than one set of numbers) to employ the rubber engine concept. Additionally, single parameters can be modified without having "all other parameters change accordingly." While scaling the other parameters might be a good idea, ultimately it's up to the designer to keep the engine specifications reasonable. Peter's answer is correct, but in my opinion might convey too strict of a definition of what the rubber engine concept is intended to be.
            – zaen
            23 hours ago















          up vote
          18
          down vote













          I intended to make this a comment on Peter Kämpf's answer, but don't have enough reputation.



          In my engineering education, a "rubber engine" referred to an engine with variable parameters. A "fixed engine" referred to a specific engine with well-defined parameters, for example "Lycoming O-235-F1." In general, you use a rubber engine in aircraft design when you know generally what type of aircraft you're working on, e.g. a single engine piston-propeller or a multi-engine turboprop, and you just need values that are "good enough" without restricting your design to a specific model. Once you have an idea of what the aircraft's parameters are going to be, you can select a specific engine model and modify the rest of the design to work with the newly-restricted engine.



          It's not as restrictive of a definition as a type of data table; it can be as simple as having single numbers for power, fuel consumption, weight, etc.






          share|improve this answer

















          • 5




            Basically a "rubber engine" is a concept. It's the idea that your plane has an engine, but it doesn't have locked-in specs.
            – Nelson
            yesterday










          • "Single numbers" can be viewed as a (small) table, so Peter's answer still applies.
            – Carl Witthoft
            yesterday










          • @CarlWitthoft Yes, Peter's answer does still apply, I only wanted to point out that one doesn't need to generate/have "tables of engine data" (i.e. more than one set of numbers) to employ the rubber engine concept. Additionally, single parameters can be modified without having "all other parameters change accordingly." While scaling the other parameters might be a good idea, ultimately it's up to the designer to keep the engine specifications reasonable. Peter's answer is correct, but in my opinion might convey too strict of a definition of what the rubber engine concept is intended to be.
            – zaen
            23 hours ago













          up vote
          18
          down vote










          up vote
          18
          down vote









          I intended to make this a comment on Peter Kämpf's answer, but don't have enough reputation.



          In my engineering education, a "rubber engine" referred to an engine with variable parameters. A "fixed engine" referred to a specific engine with well-defined parameters, for example "Lycoming O-235-F1." In general, you use a rubber engine in aircraft design when you know generally what type of aircraft you're working on, e.g. a single engine piston-propeller or a multi-engine turboprop, and you just need values that are "good enough" without restricting your design to a specific model. Once you have an idea of what the aircraft's parameters are going to be, you can select a specific engine model and modify the rest of the design to work with the newly-restricted engine.



          It's not as restrictive of a definition as a type of data table; it can be as simple as having single numbers for power, fuel consumption, weight, etc.






          share|improve this answer












          I intended to make this a comment on Peter Kämpf's answer, but don't have enough reputation.



          In my engineering education, a "rubber engine" referred to an engine with variable parameters. A "fixed engine" referred to a specific engine with well-defined parameters, for example "Lycoming O-235-F1." In general, you use a rubber engine in aircraft design when you know generally what type of aircraft you're working on, e.g. a single engine piston-propeller or a multi-engine turboprop, and you just need values that are "good enough" without restricting your design to a specific model. Once you have an idea of what the aircraft's parameters are going to be, you can select a specific engine model and modify the rest of the design to work with the newly-restricted engine.



          It's not as restrictive of a definition as a type of data table; it can be as simple as having single numbers for power, fuel consumption, weight, etc.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered yesterday









          zaen

          3163




          3163








          • 5




            Basically a "rubber engine" is a concept. It's the idea that your plane has an engine, but it doesn't have locked-in specs.
            – Nelson
            yesterday










          • "Single numbers" can be viewed as a (small) table, so Peter's answer still applies.
            – Carl Witthoft
            yesterday










          • @CarlWitthoft Yes, Peter's answer does still apply, I only wanted to point out that one doesn't need to generate/have "tables of engine data" (i.e. more than one set of numbers) to employ the rubber engine concept. Additionally, single parameters can be modified without having "all other parameters change accordingly." While scaling the other parameters might be a good idea, ultimately it's up to the designer to keep the engine specifications reasonable. Peter's answer is correct, but in my opinion might convey too strict of a definition of what the rubber engine concept is intended to be.
            – zaen
            23 hours ago














          • 5




            Basically a "rubber engine" is a concept. It's the idea that your plane has an engine, but it doesn't have locked-in specs.
            – Nelson
            yesterday










          • "Single numbers" can be viewed as a (small) table, so Peter's answer still applies.
            – Carl Witthoft
            yesterday










          • @CarlWitthoft Yes, Peter's answer does still apply, I only wanted to point out that one doesn't need to generate/have "tables of engine data" (i.e. more than one set of numbers) to employ the rubber engine concept. Additionally, single parameters can be modified without having "all other parameters change accordingly." While scaling the other parameters might be a good idea, ultimately it's up to the designer to keep the engine specifications reasonable. Peter's answer is correct, but in my opinion might convey too strict of a definition of what the rubber engine concept is intended to be.
            – zaen
            23 hours ago








          5




          5




          Basically a "rubber engine" is a concept. It's the idea that your plane has an engine, but it doesn't have locked-in specs.
          – Nelson
          yesterday




          Basically a "rubber engine" is a concept. It's the idea that your plane has an engine, but it doesn't have locked-in specs.
          – Nelson
          yesterday












          "Single numbers" can be viewed as a (small) table, so Peter's answer still applies.
          – Carl Witthoft
          yesterday




          "Single numbers" can be viewed as a (small) table, so Peter's answer still applies.
          – Carl Witthoft
          yesterday












          @CarlWitthoft Yes, Peter's answer does still apply, I only wanted to point out that one doesn't need to generate/have "tables of engine data" (i.e. more than one set of numbers) to employ the rubber engine concept. Additionally, single parameters can be modified without having "all other parameters change accordingly." While scaling the other parameters might be a good idea, ultimately it's up to the designer to keep the engine specifications reasonable. Peter's answer is correct, but in my opinion might convey too strict of a definition of what the rubber engine concept is intended to be.
          – zaen
          23 hours ago




          @CarlWitthoft Yes, Peter's answer does still apply, I only wanted to point out that one doesn't need to generate/have "tables of engine data" (i.e. more than one set of numbers) to employ the rubber engine concept. Additionally, single parameters can be modified without having "all other parameters change accordingly." While scaling the other parameters might be a good idea, ultimately it's up to the designer to keep the engine specifications reasonable. Peter's answer is correct, but in my opinion might convey too strict of a definition of what the rubber engine concept is intended to be.
          – zaen
          23 hours ago


















           

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