AAE 354

Lesson 02-6

Flight Dynamics

Longitudinal
Control
 Elevator Deflection

Aft
movement
of the
control
column
deflects the
trailing edge
of the
elevator
surface up.

The elevator controls pitch about the lateral axis

Effect of Elevator Deflection
𝛿𝑒 = 0 𝑪𝑳𝒕 = 𝑪𝑳𝜶𝒕 𝛼𝑡

𝛼𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Recall:
= 𝛼𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑛𝑜 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 + 𝜏 𝛿𝑐

For arbitrary 𝛿𝑒 𝑪𝑳𝒕 = 𝑪𝑳𝜶𝒕 𝛼𝑡 + 𝜏 𝛿𝑒

Increment in ∆𝑪𝑳𝒕 = 𝑪𝑳𝜶𝒕 𝜏 𝛿𝑒

Lift of Tailplane
 Elevator Effectiveness

• 𝒅𝑪𝑳𝒕/𝒅𝜹𝒆 is the elevator effectiveness

• The elevator effectiveness is proportional to the size of the
flap being used as an elevator and can be estimated from
the equation:

𝒅𝑪𝑳𝒕
= 𝑪𝑳𝜶𝒕 𝝉
𝒅𝜹𝒆

where 𝝉 is the change in tail angle of attack per unit

deflection of the elevator and is called the elevator
effectiveness parameter
𝑑𝛼𝑡
𝝉=
𝑑𝛿𝑒
Elevator Effectiveness Parameter

Elevator Effectiveness is proportional to the size of flap being used as an elevator

 Increment in Pitching Moment
𝑪𝒎𝒄𝒈𝒕 = −𝑽𝑯 𝜼𝑪𝑳𝒕

∆𝑪𝒎 = ∆𝑪𝒎𝒕 = −𝑉𝐻 𝜂∆𝐶𝐿𝑡

= −𝑉𝐻 𝜂𝐶𝐿𝛼 𝜏 𝛿𝑒
𝑡 𝑑𝐶𝑚
= 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝛿𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 =
𝑑𝛿𝑒

𝑪𝒎𝜹𝒆 = −𝑽𝑯 𝜼𝑪𝑳𝜶𝒕 𝝉

The derivative 𝑪𝒎𝜹𝒆 is called the elevator control power

𝑪𝒎 = 𝐶𝑚0 + 𝐶𝑚𝛼 𝛼 + 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝛿𝑒

 Example
For an F-4C aircraft at 35,000 𝑓𝑡 and Mach 0.9 (𝑢0 = 876 𝑓𝑡Τ𝑠𝑒𝑐 , 𝑄 = 283.2 𝑙𝑏Τ𝑓𝑡 2 ,
𝑆 = 530 𝑓𝑡 2 ) 𝑐ҧ = 16 𝑓𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 = −0.058Τ𝑟𝑎𝑑. If 𝛿𝑒 is perturbed by 1 𝑑𝑒𝑔, find the
perturbed pitching moment (∆𝑀).

𝜕𝐶𝑚
𝑪𝒎 𝜹 =
𝒆 𝜕𝛿𝑒

For only a perturbation in 𝛿𝑒 :

1
∆𝐶𝑚 = 𝑪𝒎 𝜹 ∆𝛿𝑒 = −0.058 = −1.0122 × 10−3
𝒆 57.3

𝑪𝒎 = 𝑀Τ𝑄𝑆𝑐ҧ ∴ ∆𝑪𝒎 = ∆𝑀Τ𝑄𝑆𝑐ҧ ∆𝑴 = ∆𝑪𝒎 𝑄𝑆𝑐ҧ

= −1.0122 × 10−3 283.2 530 (16)
= −2430.9 𝑓𝑡 − 𝑙𝑏
A 2430.9 ft-lb nose-down pitching moment is predicted if the elevator angle perturbs
by 1 degree.
Influence of Elevator on 𝐶𝑚 vs 𝛼 curve

𝑑𝐶𝑚
𝑪𝒎 = 𝐶𝑚0 + 𝐶𝑚𝛼 𝛼 + 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝛿𝑒 = 𝐶𝑚0 + 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝛿𝑒 + 𝐶𝐿
𝑑𝐶𝐿
 Elevator Angle to Trim
𝑑𝐶𝑚
𝑪𝒎𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒎 = 𝟎 = 𝐶𝑚0 + 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝛿𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚 + 𝐶𝐿𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚
𝑑𝐶𝐿

𝐶𝑚0 𝐶𝐿 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚 𝑑𝐶𝑚 𝑊

∴ 𝜹𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒎 = − − 𝐶𝐿𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚 = 1 2
𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝑑𝐶𝐿 2
𝜌𝑉 𝑆

𝐶𝐿 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚 𝑑𝐶𝑚
𝜹𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒎 = 𝛿𝑒0 −
𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝑑𝐶𝐿
𝐶𝑚0
where 𝛿𝑒0 = 𝛿𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜 𝐶𝐿 = −
𝐶𝑚𝛿
𝑒
Elevator Angle for Trim
 Remarks
• For a given c.g. location, 𝛿𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚 is a linear function
of 𝐶𝐿𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚
• When an airplane is trimmed at a chosen 𝐶𝐿 by
setting the elevator at corresponding 𝛿𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚 , to fly
at a lower speed which implies higher 𝐶𝐿 the pilot
would need to apply more negative elevator
deflection
 Example 1
An airplane has elevator power 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 of -0.010 per degree.
The c.g. is placed such that the static margin is 10% of
m.a.c. Further, the tail setting , 𝑖𝑡 ,is such that the airplane is
in trim, with zero elevator deflection, at 𝐶𝐿 = 0.5. Plot the
curves of 𝐶𝑚𝑐𝑔 vs 𝐶𝐿 for constant elevator angles of 𝛿𝑒 =
−200 , −100 , 00 , 100 , 200 . Cross plot these curves to obtain
the curve corresponding to 𝛿𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚 vs. 𝐶𝐿𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚 . Note 𝐶𝐿𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
1.5.
 Solution
𝐶𝑚𝑐𝑔 = 𝐶𝑚0 + 𝐶𝑚𝛼 𝛼 + 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝛿𝑒 = 𝐶𝑚0 + 𝑑𝐶𝑚𝑐𝑔 Τ𝑑𝐶𝐿 𝐶𝐿 + 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝛿𝑒

Static Margin= 0.1 𝑑𝐶𝑚𝑐𝑔 Τ𝑑𝐶𝐿 = −0.1 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 = −0.01Τ𝑑𝑒𝑔

Since the airplane is in equilibrium with zero elevator deflection at 𝐶𝐿 = 0.5

0 = 𝐶𝑚0 − 0.1 ∗ 0.5 + 0.0 𝐶𝑚0 = 0.05

𝐶𝑚𝑐𝑔 = 0.05 − 0.1𝐶𝐿 − 0.01𝛿𝑒

𝛿𝑒 = −200 , 𝐶𝑚𝑐𝑔 = 0.05 − 0.1𝐶𝐿 − 0.01 −200

= +0.25 − 0.1𝐶𝐿
𝛿𝑒 = −100 , 𝐶𝑚𝑐𝑔 = +0.15 − 0.1𝐶𝐿
𝛿𝑒 = 00 , 𝐶𝑚𝑐𝑔 = +0.05 − 0.1𝐶𝐿
𝛿𝑒 = +100 , 𝐶𝑚𝑐𝑔 = −0.05 − 0.1𝐶𝐿
𝛿𝑒 = +100 , 𝐶𝑚𝑐𝑔 = −0.15 − 0.1𝐶𝐿
𝑪𝒎𝒄𝒈 𝒗𝒔 𝑪𝑳
 𝛿𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚 vs 𝐶𝐿
𝐶𝑚0 −0.1
𝛿𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚 = 𝛿𝑒0 − 𝑑𝐶𝑚𝑐𝑔 Τ𝑑𝐶𝐿 𝐶𝐿𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚 ൗ𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝛿𝑒0 = − 𝐶 = = 50
𝑚𝛿 −0.01
𝑒

𝛿𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚 = 50 − −0.1 𝐶𝐿𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚 Τ −0.01 = 50 − 10 ∗ 𝐶𝐿𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚

trim
Flight Measurement of XNP
Neutral Point
 Procedure
𝐶𝑚0 𝑪𝑳 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒎 𝐶𝑚𝛼
𝜹𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒎 =− −
𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝐶𝐿𝛼

𝒅𝜹𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒎 𝐶𝑚𝛼
=−
𝒅𝑪𝑳𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒎 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝐶𝐿𝛼

𝒅𝜹𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒎
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐶𝑚𝛼 = 0, 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜
𝒅𝑪𝑳𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒎
 Ground Effect

– The slope of lift curve of the wing, i.e. 𝐶𝐿𝛼𝑤 increases slightly
– The downwash due to wing decreases considerably
– Result: The airplane becomes more stable and requires
more negative elevator deflection
 Example 2.3 (Nelson)
Assume that the pitching moment curve for the landing configuration of an
airplane at its forwardmost center of gravity position is as follows:

𝐶𝑚𝑐𝑔 = −0.20 − 0.035𝛼 + 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝛿𝑒

where 𝛼 is in degrees. Estimate the size of the elevator to trim the airplane at
the landing angle of attack of 100 . Assume that the elevator angle of attack is
constrained to +200 and −250 .

Given: 𝑉𝐻 = 0.66, 𝜂 = 1.0, 𝐶𝐿𝛼 = 3.9Τ𝑟𝑎𝑑 , 𝑆𝑡 = 43 𝑓𝑡 2

𝑡
 Solution
𝐶𝑚𝑐𝑔 = −0.20 − 0.035𝛼 + 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 𝛿𝑒

For an approach angle of attack at maximum elevator position:

0 = −0.20 − 0.035 100 + 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 −250

∴ 𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 = − 0.022Τ𝑑𝑒𝑔

𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 = −𝑉𝐻 𝜂𝜏𝐶𝐿𝛼

𝑡

𝐶𝑚𝛿𝑒 −0.022Τ𝑑𝑒𝑔 57.3 𝑑𝑒𝑔Τ𝑟𝑎𝑑

𝜏=− = = 0.49
𝑉𝐻 𝜂𝐶𝐿𝛼 Τ
0.66 1.0 3.9 𝑟𝑎𝑑
𝑡
𝜏 = 0.49

𝑆𝑒 Τ𝑆𝑡 = 0.30

𝑆𝑒 = 0.30𝑆𝑡
= 0.3 43𝑓𝑡 2
= 13 𝑓𝑡 2