Stability anlayis of B-737 &B-737 MAX using USAF datcom.
Interim Poster
Mazen Abdelsayed - supervisor Dr. I.Madani
BEng(Hons) Aerospace Engineering
Since the start of aviation and forever will be the main goal
of all of the aviation companies to race and produce the best
quality products.it can range from developing a full new
product or editing and improving an existing one. Boeing is a
very well known company and what made them one of the
biggest companies in the competition is their very first staple
piece B737-100 which is still in use till now however coming
back in a new form (b737-max).
The main aims of this project is:
• To deeply look into both these aircrafts, analyse and
understand the b737-100 characteristics with the help of
Datcom
• Observe and asses all changes to make the new b737-max
• Comment how the changes have improved the overall
performance.
• Produce a Datcom Model of the New b737 with all the
changes .
• Compare the aircrafts and comment on the changes and
analyse the stability of both aircrafts with aid of equations
of motion, longitudinal motion controls and static stability
equations.
Plan
My plan to tackle these tasks have been highlighted in the
project time line. Briefly I am planning to gather all the
mathematical data needed such as understanding and
using equations of motion, static stability concepts.
Secondly Familiarize with the USAF Datcom and feel
confident about using it in such project. Then finally
gathering all of the technical information of both aircrafts
and finally applying all of the information I learned to
carry out the stability analysis as mentioned earlier.
Experimental / Developmental Activities
The experimental section of this project is the process of
producing a model of comparison aircraft using the United States
Air Force Stability and Control DATCOM which is a data
compendium that specifies in proofing and estimating basic
stability and control derivitavies by providing a plane model (as
shown in results section) and a series of relative graphs such as the
Cl with Cd, etc. , however this software was created back in the
1970s so it is not really sophisticated technologically , but as it was
created back then so its quite complicated on how to change
variables which are provided normally in Code-language ( as
shown in results section) which can be accessed if you open the
input Datcom file in notepad to access . The coded data literally
specifies everything on the aircraft from the fuselage length until
the degree of deflection for the aileron. The key to getting a grip of
using this software is by decoding each of these variables with the
help of The name list file provided with the program and the Nasa
“Technical Memorandum 84639” that explains these variables and
how to calculate them . Taking in consideration this was a report
issued in 1983 my plan to go ahead is combine knowledge from
both these documents and make my own manual to satart editing
and perhaps creating the new model.
Results
2019-20
Discussion of Project Progress
In terms of the aircrafts I am willing to compare I have added the
very new Boeing 737-max10 (table in results) to my research
sample as it came out with the last month so my plan is to see if
there's any noticeable difference between it and the max-8 if
there is than I will mainly focus on the new model. on the other
hand if the changes weren’t significant i will use the max-8 as a
comparison due to lack of information about the new aircraft .
Moving on, So far I have been reading at the fundamentals of
producing a stability analysis of an aircraft my search has included,
An understanding of the equations of motion and how these
equation can be adapted at different flight stages such as : during
a gust , or when preforming a manoeuvre. secondly I have read
and understood the principles of longitudinal motion on an aircraft
and how different variables can affect this motion such as the
stabilizers, flaps, slats , etc., In addition to understanding which
parts of the plane contribute to vertical or horizontal change in
motion , and with what angles that this motions have been made
possible i.e.: side slip angle , side wash angle. lastly I have fully
understood how each component on the aircraft contributes to
the stability no matter if it is directional or roll stability, these
components vary from the fuselage up until the slats; Also how
slight changes in the wing dihedral angle can change the whole
stability of the aircraft and this is going to come handy when used
in comparing what changes have been made to a plane and how
these changes have made the aircraft more efficient. Also I have
looked at the control systems of the aircraft and how damping
works in the stick fixed longitudinal motion technique also I have
learned that any variable that we need to calculate to achieve any
goal with the aircraft stability , etc. we must count in the un
expected perturbations. A sample of the important equations that
I came across are found below:
Fig1.(top): Small disturbance theory.
Fig2.(bottom) : static stability, stick
fixed neutral point.