AE3212-I Aerospace Flight Dynamics

and Simulation
Alexander in t Veld
09-02-2016

Part 1: Static stabililty

Analysis of Steady Symmetric Flight

AE3212-I Flight Dynamics 1

Roadmap

Analysis of Steady
Symmetric Flight
Longitudinal Stability
and Control in Steady
Flight
Longitudinal Stability
Static stability
and Control Derivatives
Lateral Stability and
Control in Steady Flight
Lateral Stability and
Control Derivatives

Analysis of Steady
Aerodynamic center Equilibrium
Symmetric Flight

AE3212-I Flight Dynamics 2

 Learning goals

After this part you will understand:

Models of symmetrical aerodynamic forces and
moments on 2-D profile, wings, wing-body, wing-
body-tailplane
Aerodynamic centre, neutral point
Static longitudinal equilibrium
Static longitudinal stability
Hinge moments and control forces

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Aircraft stability
L

T D

Starting point:
Force equilibrium

W
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 Static stability
L

D
T

Starting point:
Force equilibrium LH
Moment equilibrium
W
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Distributed forces on a wing

R
Air pressure differences
acting on the entire wing
surface generate a
resulting force

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 Resultant lift and drag
CN
CL CR

XB
Cm
CD
CT
XS

ZS
ZB

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Lift curve

F-27 wing (wind tunnel)

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 Drag curve

F-27 wing (wind tunnel)

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Drag polar in CN-CT

F-27 wing (wind tunnel)

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C N C L , but CT C D

CN
CL
CR

XB

CD
CT
XS

ZS
ZB

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C N C L , but CT C D
CR

CL
CN
XB

CD
CT

XS

ZS
ZB
CT negative for large angles of attack
CD always positive

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 Moment around arbitrary point

CN CN
CR CR

2
CT CT
1
Cm Cm
(x2,z
(x1,z 2)
1)

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Cm for varying x
c

F-27 wing

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 Cm for varying z
c

F-27 wing

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Center of pressure
Definition center of pressure relative to mac

(xd , z0 )

Cm( xd ,z0 ) = 0
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Center of pressure
Center of pressure:
Intersection line of action CR with mac
Taking leading edge mac as ref point (x0,z0):

Center of pressure:

varies more or less linearly with , so also

with . So:

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Center of pressure

Center of pressure can be written as (see previous relations):

Different ways to describe the aerodynamic moment

characteristics:
curve, or
center of pressure with line of action of

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 cp location

Centre of pressure
and total force
vector (F-27 wing)

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Aerodynamic center

Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages.

There is a more attractive method:

The aerodynamic center (ac)

Key feature: does not vary with !!

We will now take a close look at the ac

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 Aerodynamic center

Step change in
angle of attack

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Aerodynamic center

Conclusions:
First metacenter:

Neutral line:
Line of action of dCR
If forces and moment about leading edge mac are given, neutral line
can be extracted from:

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Aerodynamic center

Neutral point:
Intersection neutral line with mac
Distance neutral point (xn,z0) behind leading edge mac (x0,z0):

Orientation neutral line (see previous figure):

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Aerodynamic center

Neutral line at
angle of attack

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 Aerodynamic center

Definition second metacenter M2 also known as aerodynamic

center ac:

ac position determination: 2 ways

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Aerodynamic center

Use:

solve for xac,zac

Mostly theoretic solution. Double differentiation of

experimental data does not give good results.

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 Aerodynamic center
Location of ac by comparing neutral lines

use the expressions of the neutral line for two adjacent s.

Intersection gives (xac,zac)

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Aerodynamic center
If position of the ac (xac,zac) and the are known, then:

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 Aerodynamic center
Can a straight wing (flying wing) fly?
Can a flying wing be stable?

Three types of wing profile: positive curvature, symmetrical and

fish tail (negative curvature)
All have positive lift vs. slope
All have the aerodynamic center on 25% of mean aerodynamic
chord
The reference point (center of gravity) can be in front, behind or in
the aerodynamic center
We need equilibrium and (static) stability as necessary conditions
for successful free flight

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Aerodynamic center

Simplified moment equation:

Condition of stability:

With:

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 Aerodynamic center

AE3212-I Flight Dynamics 31

Aerodynamic center

Equilibrium and stability of a wing, suspension point ahead of the ac, Cmac positive
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 Aerodynamic center

Equilibrium and stability of a wing, suspension point in of the ac, Cmac equals zero
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Aerodynamic center

Equilibrium and stability of a wing, suspension point in of the ac, Cmac equals zero
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 Aerodynamic center

Equilibrium and stability of a wing, suspension point behind of the ac, C macnegative

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Aerodynamic center

Equilibrium and stability of a wing, suspension point behind of the ac, C macnegative

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 Aerodynamic center

Conclusions: x xac
Suspension point ahead of ac: <0
Always stable
c
If suspension point moves back, the model becomes less stable as
becomes less negative

Suspension point in the ac: x xac

=0
Slope of moment curve is zero c
Equilibrium possible only if = 0 (neutrally stable)

Suspension point behind of ac: x xac

Always unstable
>0
c

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Aerodynamic center

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 Fuselage influence
Numerical simulation of particle
lines and pressure distribution on
a fuselage

dC N
0
d

dCM
>0 Fuselage in inviscid flow, = 10
d Linearized potential flow

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Wing +fuselage moment

Characteristics of wing-fuselage (w+f) configurations:

Changes caused by the fuselage and nacelles commonly

expressed as a shift of ac pos and a change in

Expression for total moment for w+f configuration:

x xacw+ f
Cmw+ f = Cmacw+ f + C N
c

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 Aerodynamic center
x xacw+ f
Cmw+ f = Cmacw+ f + C N
c
Looking at wing-fuselage configuration:

with:

Definitions:

Cm f .i . = Cm f due to wing interference on fuselage

Cmw.i . = Cmw due to fuselage interference on wing

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Influence wing on fuselage

Wing-fuselage
configuration used
in numerical
simulation

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 Influence wing on fuselage
Wing-fuselage configuration used in numerical simulation

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Influence wing on fuselage

Variation of the
angle of attack and
the normal force

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 Influence fuselage on wing
Influence of the presence of the fuselage on AoA

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Influence fuselage on wing

The c c
distribution
along the
span of a
wing

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