Simulated pilot-in-the-loop testing of handling qualities of the flexible wing aircraft
Abstract
This article aims to indicate the differences between rigid and flexible wing aircraft flying (FQ) and handling (HQ) qualities. The Simulation Framework for Flexible Aircraft was used to provide a generic cockpit environment and a piloted mathematical model of a bare airframe generic high aspect ratio wing aircraft (GA) model. Three highly qualified test pilots participated in the piloted simulation trials campaign and flew the GA model with both rigid and flexible wing configurations. The results showed a negligible difference for the longitudinal HQs between rigid and flexible wing aircraft. However, significant changes were indicated for the lateral/directional HQs of the flexible wing aircraft. A wing ratcheting phenomenon manifested itself during the roll mode tests, the spiral mode exhibited neutral stability and the Dutch roll mode shape changed from a horizontal to a vertical ellipse. The slalom task flight tests, performed to assess the FQs of the aircraft, revealed the degradation of both the longitudinal and lateral/directional FQs.
Keyword : aeroelasticity, flexible aircraft, flight dynamics, handling qualities, piloted simulation trials
How to Cite
Portapas, V., & Cooke, A. (2020). Simulated pilot-in-the-loop testing of handling qualities of the flexible wing aircraft. Aviation, 24(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.3846/aviation.2020.12175
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
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Waszak, M. R., Davidson, J. B., & Schmidt, D. K. (1987). A simulation study of the flight dynamics of elastic aircraft (NASA CR-4102). NASA Langley Research Center.
Waszak, M. R., & Schmidt, D. K. (1988). Flight dynamics of aeroelastic vehicles. Journal of Aircraft, 25(6), 563–571. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.45623
Andrews, S. P. (2011). Modelling and simulation of flexible air-craft: Handling qualities with active load control. Cranfield University.
Anonymous. (2017). Aviation benefits. Industry High Level Group.
Ashby, M. F. (2017). Materials selection in mechanical design (5th ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann.
ATAG. (2016). Aviation: Benefits beyond borders. Air Transport Action Group.
Bradley, M. K., Droney, C. K., & Allen, T. J. (2015). Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research phase II: volume I – truss braced wing design exploration (NASA/CR-2015-218704/Volume I). NASA.
Cook, M. V. (2013). Flight dynamics principles: A linear systems approach to aircraft stability and control (3rd ed.). Butter-worth-Heinemann.
Cooper, G. E., & Harper, R. P. (1969). The use of pilot rating in the evaluation of aircraft handling qualities (NASA-TN-D-5153). NASA Ames Research Center.
Cooper, J. E., Lowenberg, M. H., Lone, M. M., Garry, K., Cooke, A. K., & Coetzee, E. (2014). High Aspect Ratio Technology Enablers – HARTEn [Research proposal]. Airbus, University of Bristol, Cranfield University.
Damveld, H. J. (2009). A cybernetic approach to assess the longitudinal handling qualities of aeroelastic aircraft. Delft University of Technology.
DeLaurier, J. D. (1993). An aerodynamic model for flapping-wing flight. The Aeronautical Journal, 97(964), 125–130. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0001924000026002
Dodt, T. (2011, September 15). Introducing the 787. ISASI 2011, Salt Lake City, UT.
Durham, W. (2013). Aircraft flight dynamics and control. Wiley.
Dussart, G. X., Portapas, V., Pontillo, A., & Lone, M. M. (2018). Flight dynamic modelling and simulation of large flexible air-craft. In K. Volkov (Ed.), Flight physics – models, techniques and technologies (pp. 49–72). InTech. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.71050
Dussart, G. X., Yusuf, S. Y., Portapas, V., Lopez Matos, G. E., & Lone, M. M. (2018, January 8). Method to assess lateral handling qualities of aircraft with wingtip morphing. AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference, Kissimmee, FL. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2018-1015
ESDU. (1990). Normal-force-curve and pitching-moment-curve slopes of forebody-cylinder combinations at zero angle of attack for Mach numbers up to 5 (ESDU 89008). ESDU International.
ESDU. (1992). Normal force and pitching moment of conical boat-tails (ESDU 87033). ESDU International.
ESDU. (2004). Normal force, pitching moment and side force of fore-body-cylinder combinations for angles of attack up to 90 degrees and Mach numbers up to 5 (ESDU 89014). ESDU International.
ESDU. (2013). Aerodynamic centre of wing-fuselage-nacelle combinations: Effect of wing-pylon mounted nacelles (ESDU 77012). ESDU International.
Field, E. J., & Rossitto, K. F. (1999, August 9). Approach and landing longitudinal flying qualities for large transports based on in-flight results. 24th Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference. Portland, OR. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.1999-4095
IATA. (2013). IATA technology roadmap. International Air Transport Association.
Kellari, D., Crawley, E. F., & Cameron, B. G. (2018). Architectural decisions in commercial aircraft from the DC-3 to the 787. Journal of Aircraft, 55(2), 792–804. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.C034130
Kim, D.-K., Lee, J.-S., Lee, J.-Y., & Han, J.-H. (2008). An aeroelastic analysis of a flexible flapping wing using modified strip theory. Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems 2008, 6928. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.776137
Leishman, J. G. (1988). Validation of approximate indicial aerodynamic functions for two-dimensional subsonic flow. Journal of Aircraft, 25(10), 914–922. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.45680
Leishman, J. G. (1993). Indicial lift approximations for two-dimensional subsonic flow as obtained from oscillatory measurements. Journal of Aircraft, 30(3), 340–351. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.46340
Leishman, J. G. (1994). Unsteady lift of a flapped airfoil by indicial concepts. Journal of Aircraft, 31(2), 288–297. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.46486
Lopez Matos, G. E., Portapas, V., Dussart, G. X., Lone, M. M., & Coetzee, E. (2018, January 8). Pilot-in-the-loop flight simulation of flexible aircraft in Matlab/Simulink: Implementation and coding peculiarities. 2018 AIAA Modeling and Simulation Technologies Conference. Kissimmee, FL. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2018-0426
Moorhouse, D. J., & Woodcock, R. J. (1981). Background information and user guide for MIL-F-8785C, military specification – Flying qualities of piloted airplanes (AFWAL-TR-81-3109). USAF Wright Aeronautical Laboratories.
Nicolai, L. M., & Carichner, G. (2010). Static stability and control. In Fundamentals of aircraft and airship design (pp. 575–600). American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. https://doi.org/10.2514/5.9781600867538.0575.0600
Noll, T. E., Brown, J. M., Perez-Davis, M. E., Ishmael, S. D., Tiffany, G. C., & Gaier, M. (2004). Helios mishap investigation report. NASA.
Patil, M. J., & Hodges, D. H. (2004). On the importance of aero-dynamic and structural geometrical nonlinearities in aeroelastic behavior of high-aspect-ratio wings. Journal of Fluids and Structures, 19(7), 905–915. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfluidstructs.2004.04.012
Portapas, V., Cooke, A. K., & Lone, M. M. (2016). Modelling framework for flight dynamics of flexible aircraft. Aviation, 20(4), 173–182. https://doi.org/10.3846/16487788.2016.1264719
Stinton, D. (1996). Flying qualities and flight testing of the aero-plane. Blackwell Science.
Theodorsen, T. (1949). General theory of aerodynamic instability and the mechanism of flutter (NACA-TR-496). NACA Langley Aeronautical Laboratory.
Tollefson, J. (2016). UN agency proposes greenhouse-gas standard for aircraft. Nature, 530(7590), 266–266. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature.2016.19336
Wagner, H. (1925). Uber die entstehung des dynamischen auftriebs von tragflun. Zeitschrift Fur Angewandte Mathematic and Mechanic, 5(1), 17–35. https://doi.org/10.1002/zamm.19250050103
Ward, D. T., & Strganac, T. W. (2001). Introduction to flight test engineering (2nd ed.). Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
Waszak, M. R., Davidson, J. B., & Schmidt, D. K. (1987). A simulation study of the flight dynamics of elastic aircraft (NASA CR-4102). NASA Langley Research Center.
Waszak, M. R., & Schmidt, D. K. (1988). Flight dynamics of aeroelastic vehicles. Journal of Aircraft, 25(6), 563–571. https://doi.org/10.2514/3.45623