March 10, 2008

AE xxx Flight Mechanics 2 1 0 6

Prerequisites: Exposure to AE 152, Introduction to Aerospace Engineering , and AE xxx, Aerodynamics.

Introduction: Equilibrium, static stability, control.

Longitudinal stability and control: Longitudinal equilibrium and static
stability, stick fixed neutral point, all moving horizontal tail OR elevator
as longitudinal control.  Trimmed lift curve slope and advantages of
reduced/negative longitudinal static stability.  Hinge moments, reversible
control, stick force, and trim tab. Stick free static stability, stick-free
neutral point.

Lateral-directional stability and control: Directional equilibrium,
stability and rudder as control.  Lateral stability, dihedral angle, aileron
control.

Dynamical equations: Euler angles. Body angular velocity and Euler angle
rates.  Body-fixed axis, wind axis, stability axes.  Equations of motion of
rigid aircraft in body fixed axes.  Stability derivatives.  Steady flight
and perturbed flight leading to linearised equaltions of motion.

Aircraft motion modes: Decoupling of longitudinal dynamics and
lateral-directional dynamics.  Short period and phugoid modes of
longitudinal dynamics.  Dutch roll, spiral and roll subsidence modes of
lateral-directional dynamics.  Effect of winds. Flight simulation.

Texts and references:
1.       R. F. Stengel, Flight dynamics, Princeton University Press, 2004.
2.      J. Roskam, Airplane flight dynamics and automatic flight controls,
DAR Corporation, 1995.
3.      R. C. Nelson, Flight stability and automatic control, Mc Graw Hill
International, 1990.
4.      B. Etkin and L. D. Duffy,  Dynamics of flight : stability and
control, John Wiley, NY 1995.
5.      C. D. Perkins and R. E. Hage, Airplane performance stability and
control, Wiley, New York, 1949.

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Dec. 19, 2007

Flight mechanics  2 1 0 6
Static stability; longitudinal neutral point in stick fixed and stick free conditions, directional stability; Longitudinal & directional control. Lateral stability and control. Equations of motion of rigid aircraft in body fixed axes. Stability axes, stability derivatives. Steady flight and perturbed flight. Various longitudinal and lateral-directional modes. Linearisation of the equations of motion. Decoupling of lateral-directional motion from longitudinal motion.

Texts: J. Roskam, Flight Mechanics of Rigid and Elastic Airplanes, University of Kansas Press, 1972.
R.C.Nelson, Flight Stability & Automatic Control, Mc Graw Hiil International, 1990.
Perkins, C.D. and Hage, R.E., Airplane Performance Stability and Control, Wiley, New York, 1949.
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Equilibrium, static stability, control.   Longitudinal equilibrium and
static stability, stick fixed neutral point, all moving horizontal tail OR
elevator as longitudinal control.  Trimmed lift curve slope and advantages
of reduced/negative longitudinal static stability.  Hinge moments,
reversible control, stick force and trim tab. Stick free static
stability, stick-free neutral point.   Directional equilibrium, stability
and rudder as control.    Lateral stability, dihedral angle, aileron control.

Euler angles. Body angular velocity and Euler angle rates.  Body fixed axis,
wind axis, stability axes.  Equations of motion of rigid aircraft in body
fixed axes.   Stability derivatives.  Steady flight and perturbed flight
leading to linearised equaltions of motion.  Decoupling of longitudinal
dynamics and lateral-directional dynamics.   Short period and Phugoid modes
of longitudinal dynamics.  Dutch roll, spiral and roll subsidence modes of
lateral-directional dynamics.  Effect of winds. Flight simulation.