Flight Dynamics

Objectives

The main objective of this curricular unit is to present and understand the fundamentals of Flight Dynamics to analyse flight stability.

It is an application of the knowledge already acquired in disciplines such as Fluid Dynamics and Applied Mechanics, where understanding some points addressed throughout the curricular unit will depend on base subjects.

General characterization

Code

13146

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

Duarte Manuel Salvador Freire Silva de Albuquerque, Marta Isabel Pimenta Verdete da Silva Carvalho

Hours

Weekly - 4

Total - 67

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

The program assumes that the student masters the matters studied in Fluids Dynamics and Applied Mechanics.

Bibliography

Course book:

Michael V. Cook, Flight Dynamics Principles (Third Edition), Butterworth-Heinemann, 2013.

Teaching method

Classes are theoretical and practical, and student participation is encouraged.

An approach is focused on a case study for each of the subjects, exposing the subject and the concepts related to its resolution.

Evaluation method

Two tests (50% each) are solved during classes.

In case of failing or improving their grades, the students have to take a final exam.

Subject matter

Review of rigid body Dynamics and stability concepts.
Aircraft nomenclature. Aerodynamics, aircraft axes systems.
Longitudinal and lateral static stability of aircraft.
Derivation of rigid body aircraft equations of motion.
Small perturbation theory:
- derivation of perturbed equations of motion of aircraft.
- decoupling of aircraft perturbed equations.
Aircraft longitudinal and lateral dynamics modes.
Aircraft response to control or atmospheric inputs.
Introduction to nonlinear problems in aircraft flight dynamics: Inertia coupling, high angle of attack phenomena, elastic effects.

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: