Module-5

Lecture-24

Lateral Stability and Control

Lateral stability
An airplane is said to have roll (lateral) stability, if a restoring moment is generated when
it is disturbed in bank orientation (φ).

• The restoring moment is function of side slip angle, β.

• The requirement for roll stability is that Clβ < 0.

• The rolling moment created in airplane due to side slip angle also depends on

◦ Wing dihedral

◦ Wing sweep

◦ Position of wing and fuselage

◦ Vertical tail

• The major contributor to Clβ is the wing dihedral angle, Γ.

• When an aircraft is disturbed from a wing-level attitude, it will begin to side slip.

Decre
ase Rolling moment y f attack
in ang ngle o
le of
a ttack as e in a
2 1 Incre v n=V sin Γ

V (due to side slip)

Γ

Figure 1: Wing-body dihedral effect

On wing 1,
vn
∆α =
u
V sin Γ
=
u
v
β∼=
u
∆α = βΓ

On wing 2, angle of attack will decrease. Resulting in negative rolling moment to

positive side slip angle.
Clβ < 0

1
 Rolling moment due to right wing
Z b
1 2
Lw,R = − ρV 2 CLα,w ∆α c(y).y.dy
2 0

Rolling moment due to left wing

Z 0
1
Lw,L = − ρV 2 CLα,w ∆α c(y).y.dy
2 − 2b

Rolling moment (total)

Z b
1 2
Lw = −2 ρV 2 CLα,w ∆α cydy
2 0

Z b
2 2
∵ ∆α = βΓ and ȳ = cydy
Sw 0
1 S
Lw = −2 ρV 2 CLα,w Γβ ȳ
2 2
Lw ȳ
(Cl,w )Γ = 1 2 = −ΓβCLα,w
2
ρV Sb b
ȳ
Clβ = −ΓCLα
b
Clβ,w < 0, Stabilizing for Γ > 0 : Dihedral

Clβ,w > 0, Destabilizing for Γ < 0 : Anhedral

• Clβ : Due to wing sweep

S1 2
(Lw )R,Λ = −CL ρV ȳ cos2 (Λ − β)
22
S1 2
(Lw )L,Λ = CL ρV ȳ cos2 (Λ + β)
22
Hence,
S1 2  2
ρV ȳ cos (Λ − β) − cos2 (Λ + β)

(Lw )Λ,T otal = −CL
22

ȳ is the location of resultant lift on the wing half

Assume β to be small; cos β → 1 and sin β → β

1
(Lw )Γ,T otal = −CL ρV∞2 ȳβ. sin 2Γ
2
ȳ
(Clw )Γ = −CL β sin 2Γ
b
ȳ
Clβ = −CL sin 2Γ
b
Clβ < 0 ⇒ Stabilizing

2
 zv
c .g.

Figure 2: Effect of vertical tail on lateral stability

• Clβ : Due to vertical tail

The rolling moment due to vertical tail when aircraft is side slipping can be written
as  
1 dCL
l = − ρV 2 ηv Sv β.zv
2 dα v
hence,

Sv zv
Cl β v
= −ηv CLα,v
Sw b

Roll control
• It is achieved by differential deflection of small flaps called ailerons.

• The basic principle lies on the fact that due to differential deflection of ailerons, the
lift distribution over the wing becomes unequal, causing a rolling moment.

• An approximate expression for roll control power can be obtained using simple strip
integration method.

Wing

y1
y
y2
Center line

Figure 3: Aileron element for integration

∆(Rolling moment due to δa) = ∆l

3
 = (∆Lift).y
∆L Cl Qcydy Cl cydy
∆Cl = = =
qSb QSb Sb
dα
Cl = CLα . .δa = CLα .τ.δa
dδa
Integrating over the region containing the aileron yields

2CLα,w τ δa y2
Z
Cl = cydy
Sb y1

2CLα,w τ y2
Z
Clδa = cydy
Sb y1