17401 - Flight Mechanics

Learning outcomes

The Mechanics of Flight concern about the aeromechanics design of airplanes, the mission optimization, the manual and automatic control, the flight qualities of vehicles flying both in atmosphere or space. Moreover, its competences regard the preliminary design, the performances, the stability and control, the flight path of airplanes and man/machine interface problems. Aim of the course is to introduce the student into the fundamental problems of the Flight Mechanics with particular reference to the airplanes performances and their static longitudinal and lateral stability.

Physics, Aerodynamics and Mathematics knowledge are prerequisites necessary for positive final examination mark.The first part of the course is devoted to the aircraft performance, while the second part addresses the static stability, both longitudinal and lateral-directional, of an aircraft. The student will have to acquire a sufficient level of acquaintances in order to face simple aeromechanics problems.

Course contents

Aeronautics: Aeroplane geometry and nomenclature. Aeroplane control systems. Standard Atmosphere and airspeed measurement. Load Factor, Manoeuvring, Gust and Flight envelope diagrams

Aeromechanics notations: Earth and aeroplane axes, Euler angles and axes transformation. Simplified rigid body equations of motion. Drag polar. Required trust for flight and required power for flight

Performance: Jet and Propeller aeroplane: level flight, trust  and power required  for level flight, endurance and range at constant FL, endurance and range at non-constant FL, climbing flight. Descent, gliding and turning flight. Take off and Landing.

Longitudinal static stability: Aeroplane pitching moment. Longitudinal control. Longitudinal static stability stick-fixed and stick-free. Manoeuvrability

Lateral-directional static stability: Directional static stability and control. Lateral static stability and control. Coupling effect. Forces and moments due to angular velocities

Laboratory work: case studies will be carried out regarding the whole program

Readings/Bibliography

Main references

1 Carlo Casarosa, “Meccanica del Volo”, Pisa University Press

2 Fabrizio Giuletti, "Lezioni di meccanica del volo : le prestazioni dei velivoli". Bologna : Progetto Leonardo

3 Quarta, "Esercizi di meccanica del volo", ETS

4 Professor's tutorial

Other references

1 Martin E Eshelby, “Aircraft performance. Theory and practice”, Butterworth Heinemann.

2 Mario Asselin, “An introduction to aircraft Performance”, AIAA Educational series

3 B. W. McCormik, “ Aerodynamics, Aeronautics and Flight Mechanics”, John Wiley & Sons, inc.

Teaching methods

The course is divide in two main parts: airplane performance and static stability. The teaching methodology is the same for both the parts and it is based on Teacher classroom explanations. The practice is also carried out in classroom. Proposed exercises will help student in final exam preparation.

The Teacher largely follows the main reference books

Assessment methods

Final examination is divided in two main parts:

1. written part, maximum duration about two hours

2. oral part

Teaching tools

Overhead projector, blackboard, classroom practices.

Office hours

See the website of Gian Marco Saggiani

See the website of Fabrizio Giulietti