Spacecraft and Aircraft Dynamics

Matthew M. Peet
Illinois Institute of Technology

Lecture 8: Roll Control and Review

Aircraft Dynamics
Lecture 8

In this Lecture we will cover:

Roll Stability
Contributions to Rolling Moment
Aileron Control

Review
A Short Review of Static Stability Equations
A Summary of Coefficients

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Axial Stability
Stability in the y-z plane

We cannot discuss rolling motion without pitch and yaw. Why?

To define the EOM, I = Cl (), we
want
Cl = Cl0 + Cl
However, if = 0 and = 0, then the
velocity vector V~ does not change with
. If we only count aerodynamic forces,
then this means
Cl = 0
This means ANY is a neutrally stable equilibrium.

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Axial Stability
Coupling with sideslip

To be useful, we bend our definition of static stability even further.

Consider the rolling angle coupled with
motion in the y-direction. For a positive
, the Lift vector becomes

0
0
F~ = L sin
= L
L cos
L
In a pseudo-static world, suppose that
Vy is proportional to L. Specifically,
let
Vy
= K
This creates a proportional relationship between roll angle and sideslip, angle
Vy

=
V
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hence

=
V
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Axial Stability
Coupling with sideslip

The horizontal motion creates aerodynamic roll moments proportional to .

Cl =

K
dCl d
dCl
=
= Cl
d
d d
V

We write the equations of motion for .

I = QScCl =

QScK
Cl
V

Since Q, S, c, K and V are all positive:

The aircraft is
Axial Stable if Cl < 0
Axial Unstable is Cl > 0

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Rolling Moment
Moment Contributions

A horizontal velocity, Vy creates two primary sources of rolling moment:

Figure: Wing Dihedral: Positive Roll, Front

View

Figure: Fuselage Interaction: Positive Roll,

Front View
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Rolling Moment
Fuselage interaction

The wing acts as a lifting surface with Q = 21 Vy2 and = . Consider

top-mounted wings
A negative roll creates a positive Vy
The fuselage blocks the free-stream Vy ,

reducing the velocity at the downstream

wing.
This reduces the dynamic pressure on the
bottom of the downstream wing, Qd ,
reducing the lift as Ld = CL Qd S.
A moment differential between the wings is

created
Cl = CL lac S(Qd Qu )

Figure: Fuselage Interaction:

Negative Roll, Front View

Mounting wings on the bottom will create the Opposite effect!

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Rolling Moment
Wing Dihedral

A negative roll creates a positive Vy

With respect to Vy , upstream wing has

positive AOA, ; downstream wing has

negative AOS, .
This creates positive lift differential on
upstream wing and negative lift
downstream.
A positive moment differential between the
wings is created.
Figure: Wing Dihedral: Negative
Roll, Front View

Cl0 = 2CL lac SQ

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Other Contributions
Wing Sweep

Wing sweep creates roll stability

A positive roll creates a positive .
A Positive means a negative Yaw ().
A negative creates a larger V on the

right wing.
A larger V means more lift.
The right wing rotates up, reducing

A result of coupling between y, , and

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Other Contributions
Tail

The same Force as for directional stability, different moment arm

A positive roll creates a positive .
Sideslip creates pressure on tail

surface.
Pressure on tail creates positive
Rotation.

Figure: Roll Stability

Figure: Directional Stability
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Roll Control
Ailerons

Ailerons are control surfaces attached to

the wings. They are similar to elevators,
but move in opposite directions.
A a is defined as
A downwards deflection on the left.
An upwards deflection on the right.

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Roll Control
Ailerons

The change in lift on the right wing is

CL = a CL a
The change in lift on the left wing is
positive. The overall moment
contribution is described as
Cl = Cl + Cla a

Cla
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CL
=2
Sb

y2

y1

yc
cydy
= 2CL
b
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Directional Stability
Example: Cessna Skyhawk

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Roll Stability
Example: Dassault Rafale

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Directional Stability
Example: Tu-154

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Directional Stability
Example: Harrier

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Directional Stability
Example: Mig 29

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Directional Stability
Example: Fr
egate

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Directional Stability
Example: Mirage

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Directional Stability
Example: A10

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Directional Stability
Example: P.166

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Roll Instability with Inertia

Falling Leaf Mode

If we truly couple the dynamics of horizontal motion with roll moment, we get
 
 
y
y
=K

When an eigenvalue of K has positive real part, we get motion akin to the
falling leaf mode, which was unstable in the F/A-18.
This mode will NOT be present in static stability dynamics

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Falling Leaf Mode

Example: Elevator-Induced

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Falling Leaf Mode

Example: F/A-18 Cockpit Camera

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Conclusion
We need 6DOF

The dynamics of aircraft are described by 6 degrees of freedom:

Rotational Coordinates
Roll
Pitch
Yaw

Translational Coordinates
Nose
Right
Down

Because body-fixed coordinates are defined in terms of rotation angles,

equations for rotational and translational motion cannot be decoupled for
aircraft.

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Conclusion

In this Lecture, you learned:

Roll Stability
Contributions to Roll Stability or instability.
I
I

Roll Contributions result from coupling with .

Not really static Stability.

Control Surfaces.
A design example.
Motivation for 6DOF analysis.

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Review: Static Stability

Coordinates

The origin is the center of mass.

The x-axis points toward the front of the

aircraft.
The z-axis points down.
The y-axis is perpendicular to the x z

plane.
Use the right-hand rule to define y

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Review: Static Stability

Longitudinal Stability

Moment Equation:
Cm = Cm0 + Cm + Cme
Expressions for Cm and Cm

Cm

CM0,wf + VH CL,t (0 + iwf it )





d
XCG XAC,wf
VH CL,t 1

= CL,wf
c
c
d
Cme = VH CL,t

Stable if Cm < 0
Cm0
eq = C
m

Neutral point when Cm = 0

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Review: Static Stability

Directional Stability

Cn = Cn + Cnr r
where
Cnr = v Vv CL,v ,
Stable if Cn > 0
Use plots/data to find Cn

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Review: Static Stability

Roll Stability

Cl = Cl + Cla a
where

yc
Cla
= 2CL
b

Stable if Cl < 0
Use plots/data to find Cl

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