AAE 6710

Lesson 02-7

Flight Dynamics
Longitudinal
Control

Factors Affecting Design

Control Effectiveness: Measure of how
effective the control is in producing the
desired control moment
Hinge Moments: The aerodynamic moments
that must be overcome to rotate the control
surface
Aerodynamic & Mass Balancing: Techniques
to keep the control forces within an
acceptable range

Effect of Elevator Deflection

= = +

= 0

= 0 + 1

For arbitrary

= = + +

= 0 +

Increment in Lift
When the elevator is deflected, it changes the lift of the airplane.
= +
1
1
1
2 = 2 + 2
2
2
2
= +

= = + +

= + +

Elevator Effectiveness
/ is the elevator effectiveness
The elevator effectiveness is proportional to the size of the
flap being used as an elevator and can be estimated from
the equation:

where is the change in tail angle of attack per unit

deflection of the elevator and is called the elevator
effectiveness parameter

Elevator Effectiveness Parameter

Elevator Effectiveness is proportional to the size of flap being used as an elevator

Increment in Pitching Moment

= 0 +

= =

If =

=
=

The derivative is called the elevator control power

Influence of Elevator on vs curve

= 0 + +

Elevator Angle to Trim

An airplane is said to be trimmed if the forces and moments
acting on the plane are in equilibrium
= = 0 + +
=

0 +

= +
=

= 1
2

Elevator Angle to Trim

If we substitute the value of in the equation, we get:

0 +
=

0 +

Elevator Angle to Trim

= = 0 + +

= 0 +

0 0 +

+
+
= 1
2

where 0 = =

Elevator Angle for Trim

Remarks
For a given c.g. location is a linear
function of
When an airplane is trimmed at a chosen
by setting the elevator at corresponding ,
to fly at a lower speed which implies higher
the pilot would need to apply more negative
elevator deflection or the incremental lift on
the tail would be negative or would be
negative

Remarks
In trim (balanced) condition, the setting of the
elevator determines the airplane's trim speed
- a given elevator position has only one lift
coefficient (and one speed at a given altitude)
at which the aircraft will maintain a constant
(un-accelerated) condition

Remarks
Military airplanes which are highly
maneuverable, sometimes have the following
features:
An all movable tail in which the entire horizontal
tail is rotated to achieve higher
Relaxed static stability wherein may have a small
positive value

Example 1
An airplane has elevator power of -0.010 per degree.
The c.g. is placed such that the static margin is 10% of
m.a.c. Further, the tail setting , ,is such that the airplane is
in trim, with zero elevator deflection, at = 0.5. Plot the
curves of vs for constant elevator angles of
= 200 , 100 , 00 , 100 , 200 . Cross plot these curves to
obtain the curve corresponding to vs. . Note
= 1.5.

Solution
= 0 + + = 0 + +
Static Margin= 0.1

= 0.1

= 0.01

Since the airplane is in equilibrium with zero elevator deflection at = 0.5

0 = 0 0.1 0.5 + 0.0

0 = 0.05

= 0.05 0.1 0.01

= 200 ,

= 100 ,
=
00 ,
= +100 ,
= +100 ,

= 0.05 0.1 0.01 200

= +0.25 0.1
= +0.15 0.1
= +0.05 0.1
= 0.05 0.1
= 0.15 0.1

 vs
Note that = 0 = 0.5

= 0
0 = 0

0.1
0.01

0.5

0 = 50

= 50 0.1

0.01 = 50 10

Flight Measurement of XNP

Procedure

0 +
=
+

= 0,

Neutral Point

Ground Effect

The slope of lift curve of the wing, i.e. increases slightly

The downwash due to wing decreases considerably
Result: The airplane becomes more stable and requires
more negative elevator deflection

Limitation on Fwd Movement of CG

In Free Flight: Forward c.g. location at which
the maximum negative elevator deflection
would be just able to permit trim at
Near Ground: Requirement of more negative
elevator deflection due to increased stability
in ground effect

Limitation on Fwd Movement of CG

Flare at Landing: Additional elevator
deflection to compensate for gusts and to
flare the aircraft. This requirement dictates a
less than the value required for
only

Restrictions on C.G. Movement from

Stick Fixed Stability Considerations

Example 2.3 (Nelson)

Solution

H.W. Assignment # 3
Solve problems 2.4, 2.6, 2.7, 2.9 & 2.10 from
Nelsons book
Submission date: 14 Apr. 2015
Submit at the start of class on due date (even if
you plan to be absent). No credit afterwards.
Do not copy any assignment.