ENG1002 : Aerospace Engineering 1 – Aerodynamic Performance : Stability and Control 1

AEROSPACE ENGINEERING 1
(ENG1002)
Aircraft Performance
Lecture 4: Stability & Control
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Stability and Control

Basic stability and

control
 What is stability and
control?
 Definition of static stability
 Definition of dynamic stability
 Preliminary assessments of static stability
of aircraft
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What is aircraft stability and control?

 Aircraft stability and control
deals with time-varying
behaviour of aircraft. i.e. aircraft
motion.
 More precisely, it deals with
aircraft motion in response to
disturbance.
 Disturbance may be
atmospheric or by control.
 Time-varying means governing
equations are differential with
𝜕
time. i.e.
𝜕𝑡
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What is aircraft stability and control?

 Aircraft motion in response to a disturbance is compared
to a datum state known as equilibrium or sometimes
called trim.
 In equilibrium, all forces and moments are in balance.
 An aircraft is stable if its response to a disturbance dies
away and it returns to its undisturbed state following
removal of the disturbance.
 It is unstable if its response
continues to grow following
removal of the disturbance.
 To illustrate these ……
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Aircraft Stability
 Stable Aircraft : An aircraft is stable if its response to a
disturbance dies away and it returns to its undisturbed
state following removal of the disturbance.
 Unstable Aircraft : It is unstable if its response
continues to grow following removal of the disturbance.
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Definitions of Stability
 The term static stability is used to describe a tendency to
return to the undisturbed state.
 The term dynamic stability is used to describe if the
aircraft actually returns to the undisturbed state. (i.e.
finally settles in undisturbed state)
 For example, the
motion shown is
statically and
dynamically stable.
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Definitions of Stability
Statically Stable and
Dynamically Unstable.
Tends to return to undisturbed
state, but does not actually
reach or settle in this state.
Statically and Dynamically
Unstable.
Does not tend to return to
undisturbed state, and does
not actually reach this state.
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Definitions of Stability
What does stable/unstable behaviour look like for an aircraft?
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Definitions of Stability
What does stable/unstable behaviour look like for an aircraft?
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Analysis of aircraft stability

 Analysis is complex and will
not be studied in detail
until year 4.
 Simple assessment can be
made of static stability.
 Statically stable does not necessarily mean dynamically
stable.
 Aircraft motion and hence stability determined by a
complex, time-varying interaction of forces and
moments.
 Preliminary assessment of static stability can be made
(i.e. time variation of the response is not considered)
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Analysis of aircraft stability

 Generally, the more stable an
aircraft, the less manoeuvrable it
becomes.
 Very stable aircraft tends to
continue on existing path :
Tendency to want to return to initial
conditions.
 Excessive stability is unwanted
 Likewise, aircraft should not be
excessively unstable as becomes
uncontrollable.
 Stability levels vary for different
aircraft types and roles.
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Analysis of aircraft stability

 Very stable aircraft, more likely to
return to initial state after
disturbance, more likely to continue
on existing path : Passenger
airliners.

 Less stable aircraft, less likely to

return to initial state, easier to
move away from exiting path,
hence easier to manoeuvre :
Military fighter aircraft.
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Aircraft Trim
 For steady flight, forces on aircraft must be in balance.
 No resultant turning moment about any axis
 Will continue flying at this state without any “control” input until
conditions changed.
 When flying in this state, aircraft is trimmed.

 Trim is different to stability – static stability is when

aircraft tends to return to initial conditions after a
disturbance.
 For steady flight usually require
aircraft to be both trimmed
and stable.
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Analysis of aircraft stability

Stable Example
Centre of gravity is ahead of
wing “aerodynamic centre”.
a) Trimmed aircraft :
Wing lift force produces “nose-
down” moment.
Tailplane (horizontal stabiliser)
produces downward lift to give
“nose-up” moment.
Forces balanced in trim.
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Analysis of aircraft stability

Stable Example
b) Disturbance to raise nose –
i.e. increase angle of attack.
Tailplane force and “nose-up”
moment decreases.
Wing lift and “nose-down”
moment increases.
Net moment is “nose-down” –
tries to restore aircraft to
original attitude.
Statically stable.
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Analysis of aircraft stability

Unstable Example
Centre of gravity is behind
wing “aerodynamic centre”.
a) Trimmed aircraft :
Wing lift force produces “nose-
up” moment.
Tailplane (horizontal stabiliser)
produces upward lift to give
“nose-down” moment.
Forces balanced in trim.
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Analysis of aircraft stability

Unstable Example
b) Disturbance to raise nose –
i.e. increase angle of attack.
Tailplane force and “nose-
down” moment increases.
Wing lift and “nose-up”
moment increases.
Lift increase likely to be larger
Net moment is to pitch “nose-
up” – increasing size of
disturbance

Statically unstable
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Analysis of aircraft stability

Simplified Example
• Dynamic Stability is more complex as time varying effects
need to be considered – more later in the degree.

• Note in the previous example, did not consider :

• Flexibility of fuselage
• Control systems
• Wing sweep and taper
• Downwash effects of wing and tail.
• Thrust and drag not acting “in-line”
More later in the degree.
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Summary : Stability and Control

 Definition of Stability
 Trim and Equilibrium
 Characteristics of stable / unstable motion.
 Static Stability
 Dynamic Stability
 Simple Analysis of Aircraft
Stability.