Flight mechanics

4º
Área de Ingeniería Aeroespacial

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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