93905 - Flight Mechanics

Learning outcomes

The integrated course Fundamentals of Aerospace Engineering introduces the student to the principles that govern the design and operation of aerospace vehicles. The student develops a multidisciplinary understanding of the main areas of aerospace engineering — aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, and flight mechanics — learning how aerodynamic, structural, and performance aspects interact in defining an aircraft configuration. In this module, the student acquires the fundamental analytical tools to study aircraft flight mechanics, including static stability, controllability, and manoeuvrability. The course provides the basis for preliminary analyses of aircraft performance, trim, and loading, with a focus on the longitudinal and lateral–directional behavior of conventional configurations.

Course contents

Dynamical systems analysis and control

Continuous-time dynamical systems. Introduction to dynamical systems. Movement vs. equilibrium, linearization, stability.

Laplace transform and transfer functions. Laplace transform. Transfer function of a linear dynamic system. Definition of system dynamical modes. Sub-systems and composition of block diagrams.

Stability and elementary response. Stability of a linear system. Temporal analysis of 1st and 2nd order systems. Role of system’s zeros on temporal behavior.

Harmonic analysis. Steady-state theorem and the harmonic response function. Bode diagram, construction of bode diagram from elementary terms. Filtering property of dynamic systems.

Aircraft Static Stability

Introduction to aircraft stability. Analysis of aerodnamic forces and moments. Equilibrium points, longitudinal static stability, definition of neutral point, controllability problem. Directional and lateral stability and controllability. Fundamentals of aircraft dynamics.

Readings/Bibliography

Ogata, Modern Control Engineering, Pearson College Div.

McLean, Automatic Flight Control Systems, Prentice Hall.

Stevens Lewis, and Johnson, Aircraft Control and Simulation: Dynamics, Controls Design, and Autonomous Systems, Blackwell Pub.

McRuer, Ashkenas, and Graham, Aircraft Dynamics and Automatic Control, Princeton Unversity Press.

Teaching methods

Class lectures.

Numerical exercises and simulations.

Assessment methods

Written exam: theory (open questions) and exercises.

Avalaible time: 3 h.

Each section of the examination is worth 8 points, for a total of 16 points for the theoretical component and 16 points for the problem-solving component.

The examination result may be officially recorded only after the student has passed and accepted the grade obtained in each of the four subjects included in the FAE course. The final grade will be calculated as the arithmetic mean of the four individual grades.

Please note that a passing grade (>18) must be obtained in each individual module. An overall passing average is not sufficient to pass the course.

The assessment evaluates the student’s knowledge of the theoretical concepts, the ability to apply the acquired knowledge to practical problems, and the ability to critically analyse the results and understand their physical significance.

Teaching tools

Flight simulation software.

Numerical exercises and simulations.

Symbolic calculus tool.

Office hours

See the website of Giulia Bertolani