21 October 2022

20ASC304A

Aircraft Performance, Stability and Control

B. Tech. 2020 Batch

Home Work – 08

Instructions

 Answer all questions.

 The answers must be neatly handwritten. Make use of neat sketches as appropriate.
 Clearly write your Name, Registration Number, Batch, Branch, Semester, Course Code, Course
Name, Total number of pages written and Date on the first page of answer sheet.
 On each page (from 2nd page onwards), write your registration number and mention the page
number at the bottom of the page.
 Save the handwritten answer sheets (scanned copy) with your Reg.
Number_APSC_HW01
(for example, the file name should be 16ETAS012001_APSC_HW01.pdf).
 Scan the answer sheet as a single PDF file only.
 Upload the scanned answer sheet to https://forms.gle/TEbnmixDd3Pz1eCJ6
on or before 28 October 2022.

Questions
1. Discuss the aircraft-fixed coordinate system, translational and rotational motion along and about
these axes, and the forces and moments acting on the aircraft using a neat sketch.

2. Discuss the three basic controls on an airplane—the ailerons, elevator, and rudder— and how they
change and control the moments about the x, y, and z axes using neat sketches.

3. Discuss the notion of static stability of a system with neat sketches.

4. Discuss the types of dynamic stability of an aircraft with sketches.

5. Explain absolute angle of attack with a neat sketch.

6. Construct the pitching moment characteristics of a stable and an unstable aircraft, and with the help
of this figure discuss the notion of longitudinal static stability. On the basis of this explanation write
the mathematical expression for longitudinal static stability.

7. Differentiate between conventional wing-tail and canard wing-tail configurations in the context of
longitudinal static stability.

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8. Consider the Dassault Rafale (or any other) aircraft that uses canard configuration. It is sometimes
told that the canard configuration is inherently statically unstable. What are your thoughts on the
stability of this aircraft? Your discussions must include both qualitative and quantitative arguments.

9. Consider a large commercial transport aircraft.

(i) For this aircraft neatly draw the wing’s bound and trailing vortex systems.
(ii) Clearly indicate the upwash and downwash regions around this aircraft.
(iii) What is the net effect of this upwash and downwash on the wing’s contribution to the
longitudinal static stability of the aircraft?