Flight Dynamics and Control
19AEE403/23DT729
Dr. Nikhil Kumar Singh
Assistant Professor
Department of Aerospace Engineering
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore Campus
s_nikhilkumar@cb.amrita.edu
1
Review of Static Stability
The subjects studied in aircraft stability and control are how well an
airplane flies and how easily it can be controlled.
By stability, we mean the tendency of the airplane to return to its
equilibrium position after it has been disturbed.
The disturbance may be generated by the pilot's actions or atmospheric
phenomena.
The atmospheric disturbances can be wind gusts, wind gradients, or
turbulent air. 2
Review of Static Stability
An airplane must have sufficient stability so that the pilot does not become
fatigued by constantly having to control the airplane due to external disturbances.
Although airplanes with little or no inherent aerodynamic stability can be
flown, they are unsafe to fly unless they are provided artificial stability by an
electromechanical device called a stability augmentation system.
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Review of Static Stability
Two conditions are necessary for an airplane to fly its mission successfully.
The airplane must be able to achieve equilibrium flight.
It must have the capability to maneuver for a wide range of flight velocities
and altitudes.
To achieve equilibrium or perform maneuvers, the airplane must be equipped
with aerodynamic and propulsive controls.
The design and performance of control systems are an integral part of airplane
stability and control.
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Review of Static Stability
Stability is a property of an equilibrium state.
To discuss stability we must first define what is meant by equilibrium.
If an airplane is to remain in steady uniform flight, the resultant force, as well as
the resultant moment about the center of gravity, must both be equal to 0.
An airplane satisfying this requirement is said to be in a state of equilibrium or
flying at a trim condition.
If the forces and moments do not sum to 0, the airplane will be subjected to
translational and rotational accelerations.
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Static Stability: Example 1
The subject of airplane stability is generally divided into static and
dynamic stability.
Static stability is the initial tendency of the vehicle to return to its
equilibrium state after a disturbance.
If the ball were to be displaced from the bottom
of the curved surface, by virtue of gravitational
attraction, the ball would roll back to the
bottom.
Statically Stable 6
Static Stability: Example 1
If we were able to balance a ball on the curved
surface, then any displacement from the
equilibrium point would cause the ball to roll
off the surface.
Statically Unstable
In this case, the equilibrium point would be
classified as unstable.
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Static Stability: Example 1
If the ball is placed on a flat surface. Now,
if the wall were to be displaced from its
initial equilibrium point to another position,
the ball would remain in the new position.
Neutrally Stable This would be classified as a neutrally
stable equilibrium point and represents the
limiting between static stability and static
instability.
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Static Stability: Example 2
Equilibrium states and stability of a pendulum
In the equilibrium state “A”, the weight (W) of the bob
is supported by the tension (T) in the rod.
Let the pendulum be disturbed, so that it makes an
angle θ to the original position.
In this disturbed position, the weight of the bob has
components Wcosθ and Wsinθ.
The component W cos θ is balanced by the tension (T)
in the rod whereas the unbalanced component W sin θ
causes the pendulum to move towards the undisturbed
Bob at the bottom – state “A” position. The equilibrium “A” is a case of stable
equilibrium. 9
Static Stability: Example 2
Equilibrium states and stability of a pendulum
In the equilibrium state “B”, the weight of the bob is
balanced by compression (C) in the rod.
Let the pendulum be disturbed, so that it makes an
angle θ to the original position.
In this disturbed position, the weight of the bob has
components W cos θ and W sinθ.
The component W sinθ in this case tends to move the
pendulum away from its equilibrium position. Hence,
equilibrium “B” is unstable. Bob at the top – state “B”
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Dynamic Stability
In the study of dynamic stability, we are concerned with the time
history of the motion of the vehicle after it is disturbed from its
equilibrium point.
Note that the vehicle can be statically stable but dynamically
unstable.
Static stability, therefore, does not guarantee dynamic stability.
However, for the vehicle to be dynamically stable it must be
statically stable.
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Dynamic Stability
Non-Oscillatory Motions
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Dynamic Stability
Oscillatory Motions
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Dynamic Stability
The reduction of the disturbance with time indicates that there is
resistance to the motion and, therefore, energy is being dissipated.
The dissipation of energy is called positive damping.
If energy is being added to the system, then we have negative
damping.
Positive damping for an airplane is provided by forces and
moments that arise owing to the airplane's motion.
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Dynamic Stability
In positive damping, these forces and moments will oppose the
motion of the airplane and cause the disturbance to damp out with
time.
An airplane that has negative aerodynamic damping will be
dynamically unstable.
To fly such an airplane, artificial damping must be designed into the vehicle.
The artificial damping is provided by a stability augmentation system (SAS).
Basically, a stability augmentation system is an electromechanical device that
senses undesirable motion and moves the appropriate controls to damp out the
motion.
This usually is accomplished with small control movements and, therefore, the
pilot's control actions are not influenced by the system.
15
Dynamic Stability
Of particular interest to the pilot and designer is the degree of
dynamic stability.
Dynamic stability usually is specified by the time it takes a
disturbance to be damped to half of its initial amplitude.
In the case of an unstable motion, the time it takes for the initial
amplitude of the disturbance to double.
In the case of an oscillatory motion, the frequency and period of
the motion are extremely important.
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Dynamic Stability
So far, we have been discussing the response of an airplane to external disturbances
while the controls are held fixed.
When we add the pilot to the system, additional complications can arise.
For example, an airplane that is dynamically stable to external disturbances with the
controls fixed can become unstable by the pilot's control actions.
If the pilot attempts to correct for a disturbance and that control input is out of phase
with the oscillatory motion of the airplane, the control actions would increase the
motion rather than correct it.
This type of pilot-vehicle response is called pilot-induced oscillation (PIO).
Many factors contribute to the PIO tendency of an airplane.
A few of the major contributions are insufficient aerodynamic damping, insufficient
control system damping, and pilot reaction time.
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