1.1. Introduction To Flight Mechanics

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Flight mechanics


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1. Introduction to flight mechanics

References
Gómez Tierno M.A., Pérez Cortés M., and Puentes Márquez C., Mecánica del
vuelo, 2, Ibergarceta Publicaciones S.L., 2012, España

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Flight Mechanics. 1. Introduction to flight mechanics

Flight mechanics definition

• Applied science on the study of flying vehicle motion.


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• Vehicle: artificial object made of several deformable


systems joined toghether.
• Flying motion: motion of the vehicle through a fluid mean
or vacuum

https://youtu.be/URJWcceup8A
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Flight Mechanics. 1. Introduction to flight mechanics

Flight mechanics definition

• Lack of cinematic restrictions: need of aerodynamic


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control surfaces or micro rocket engines.

• Intensive force fields (gravitational, aerodynamics) for


aircraft and weak force fields (solar radiation pressure,
magnetic field) for spacecraft
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Flight Mechanics. 1. Introduction to flight mechanics

Flight mechanics definition

• Bouyancy forces included for air ballons but


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neglected for aircraft

• All types of aerospace vehicles included in the


definition
– Submarine: hydrodynamics
– Spacecraft: solar radiation pressure, magnetic field
– Air ballon: gravitational, bouyancy forces
– Aircraft: gravitational, aerodynamic forces
• Focused on aircraft. 4
Flight Mechanics. 1. Introduction to flight mechanics

Aircraft motion classification

• Major aircraft motion


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– Center of mass along the trayectory


– Rotations around the center of mass
• Minor aircarft motion
– Relative movement of rotating and articulated subsystems
– Elastic deformation of structures

• Previous calculation of aerodynamic and propulsive forces


• Aircraft motion categories:
– Performances: center of mass
– Stability and control: rotations along of center of mass
– Aeroelasticity: interaction between aerodynamic, elastic,
and inertial forces 5
Flight Mechanics. 1. Introduction to flight mechanics

Initial hypothesis

• Rigid solid  aeroelasticity out of the scope of this course


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• Center of mass trajectory under translational momentum


theorem and aircraft attitude under rotational momentum
theorem independently  separated study of
“performances” and “stability and control”

The effect of control surface deflection


is negligible for external forces but not
for moments

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Flight Mechanics. 1. Introduction to flight mechanics

Performances
• The goals of study of performance:
– To set the optimum aircraft configuration for a given mission
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– To determine the operational utility of a given aircraft


• According to motion type, performance problems can be:
– Quasi-steady: inertial forces tangent to trajectory negligible
– Unsteady: take-off, landing, vehicles propelled by rockets

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Flight Mechanics. 1. Introduction to flight mechanics

Performances
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• Quasi-steady problems can be:


– Punctual performances (local properties of aircraft trajectory):
• Stall speed at given flight conditions
• Maximum horizontal velocity and altitude
• Velocity for maximum climb angle and maximum climb angle
• …
– Integral performances (global study of aircraft trajectory)
• Maximum endurance and range for a given fuel weight and
dynamics law
• Minimum time for given altitude and velocity changes

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Flight Mechanics. 1. Introduction to flight mechanics

Performances

• Additional hypothesis in quasi-steady problems to obtain


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analytical solutions:
– Type of atmosphere: standard atmosphere
– Characteristis of aircraft: parabolic polar of constant coefficients
– Type of propulsion system: thrust independent of velocity and
proportional to a power of density
• Solution limited but give the influence of parameters
• For unsteady problems to solve integral equations given the
control law and conditions in the limits

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Flight Mechanics. 1. Introduction to flight mechanics

Stability and controllability

• Flying qualities: aircraft characteristics that determine its


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controlability and stability during steady flight and


maneouvers, to carry on a safety mission
• Test flights drive recommendations which form the flying
qualities specifications and design standards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb74_jkr8u0
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Flight Mechanics. 1. Introduction to flight mechanics

Stability and controllability


• Stable aircraft: from a initial steady state, and after a
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perturbation, aircraft comes back to equilibrium state


without pilot participation.
– Static stability: aircraft configuration where forces and
moments are inherently developed to compensate the
perturbation

– Dynamic stability: tendency to completely cancel


perturbation amplitude with time 11
Flight Mechanics. 1. Introduction to flight mechanics

Stability and controllability


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Controllability: respond of the aircraft after pilot actuation from a


initial to final steady states, or during unsteady manourvers.
– Static controllability:
• focused on relationships between steady flight conditions and
deflections and level forces from pilots to mantain steady conditions
• Analysis of capacity to cancel level forces during steady flight by
deflecting aerodynamic surfaces “tabs”

– Dynamic controllability: analysis of aircraft motion after the actuation on


pilot controls
• For aircraft with conventional configuration and symmetrical plane,
motion can be broke down in longitudinal and lateral-directional
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