Preliminary computation of the hinge moment for ERA

References
REF[1]: ExpDO-013/2021 Preliminary Sizing of the Control Surfaces
ExpDO-013/2021 Preliminary sizing of the control surfaces

Description
This document presents the hinge moment obtained for the previously sized elevator,
ailerons and rudder using the methods presented in REF[1]. For this purpose, the aircraft
geometry considered for ERA is:

Wing surface 30.49 m²

HTP surface 7.5 m²

VTP surface 3.8 m²

Wingspan 21.5 m

Wing mean aerodynamic chord 1.3 m

Table 1. ERA geometry.

As an initial hypothesis, the maximum allowable deflection of the control surfaces adopted
was 25°.
The hinge moment was computed at VA = 300 km/h and sea level altitude. The design
maneuvering speed was obtained considering a target value of 𝐶𝐿 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 1. 8 , 𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 3 and
𝑀𝑇𝑂𝑊 = 8. 7 𝑇 for ERA.
The hinge line was admitted to be located at the leading edge of the control surface. The
moment was computed using the maximum aerodynamic force the flap can provide.

Ailerons
Two designs were considered for the ailerons, one of which considered 65% efficiency for
this control surface to account for the aeroelastic effects.

100% aileron efficiency 65% aileron efficiency

Span of each aileron 3.225 m * 3.225 m

Aileron chord to wing airfoil chord ratio 0.193 0.416

Total aileron surface 2 x 0.767 m² 2 x 1.658 m²

Hinge moment 775.02 Nm 2576.91 Nm

Table 2. Dimensions of the ailerons and hinge moment.

Rudder

Rudder span 3m

Rudder chord to VTP airfoil chord ratio 0.238

Rudder surface 0.798 m²

Hinge moment 1018.31 Nm

Table 3. Dimensions of the rudder and hinge moment.

Elevator

Elevator span 4m

Elevator chord to HTP airfoil chord ratio 0.248

Elevator surface 0.920 m²

Hinge moment 1020.29 Nm

Table 4. Dimensions of the elevator and hinge moment.