Aerospace Blockset

Lapse Rate Model

Implement lapse rate model for atmosphere

Library

Environment/Atmosphere

Description

The Lapse Rate Model block implements the mathematical representation of the lapse rate atmospheric equations for ambient temperature, pressure, density, and speed of sound for the input geopotential altitude. You can customize this atmospheric model, described below, by specifying atmospheric properties in the block dialog.

The following equations define the troposphere

The following equations define the tropopause (lower stratosphere)

where:

T0	Absolute temperature at mean sea level in degrees Kelvin
	Air density at mean sea level in kg/m3
	Static pressure at mean sea level in N/m2
	Altitude in m
	Absolute temperature at altitude h in degrees Kelvin
	Air density at altitude h in kg/m3
	Static pressure at altitude h in N/m2
	Speed of sound at altitude h in m/s2
	Lapse rate in degrees Kelvin/m
	Characteristic gas constant J/kg-degrees Kelvin
	Specific heat ratio
	Acceleration due to gravity in m/s2

The Lapse Rate Model block icon displays the input and output metric units.

Dialog Box

Change atmospheric parameters

When selected, the following atmospheric parameters can be customized to be different from the ISA values.

Acceleration due to gravity

Specify the acceleration due to gravity (g).

Ratio of specific heats

Specify the ratio of specific heats ().

Characteristic gas constant

Specify the characteristic gas constant (R).

Lapse rate

Specify the lapse rate of the troposphere (L).

Height of troposphere

Specify the upper altitude of the troposphere, a range of decreasing temperature.

Height of tropopause

Specify the upper altitude of the tropopause, a range of constant temperature.

Air density at mean sea level

Specify the air density at sea level ().

Ambient pressure at mean sea level

Specify the ambient pressure at sea level ().

Ambient temperature at mean sea level

Specify the ambient temperature at sea level ().

Inputs and Outputs

The input is geopotential height.

The four outputs are temperature, speed of sound, air pressure, and air density.

Assumptions and Limitations

Below the geopotential altitude of 0 km and above the geopotential altitude of the tropopause, temperature and pressure values are held. Density and speed of sound are calculated using a perfect gas relationship.

References

[1] U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

See Also

COESA Atmosphere Model

ISA Atmosphere Model

ISA Atmosphere Model

Length Conversion