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ME30041: Aircraft stability & control

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2015/6
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 15%, EX 85%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 15%)
  • Examination (EX 85%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: ME30041 Re-Assessment Examination (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To give an understanding of the principles of control of aerospace vehicles, the significance of the permitted centre of gravity limits which must be considered when loading an aircraft, static and dynamic stability of aircraft, and basic orbital mechanics applied to space vehicle control.
To enable the student to understand and analyse both flight test and wind tunnel results pertaining to aircraft static and dynamic stability.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
* Estimate stability margins for any given conventional or tail-less aircraft.
* Analyse and interpret both wind tunnel and flight test results concerned with aircraft static and dynamic stability and trim.
* Perform basic analysis of spacecraft orbits and manoeuvres.

Skills:
Problem solving; numeracy; working independently.

Content:
Rigid aircraft behaviour. Basic specification of forces and moment on an aircraft. Properties of aerofoils and controls. Static stability criterion. Static and manoeuvre margins, both stick fixed and stick free. Flight test measurements and wind tunnel analysis. Springs and weights in the elevator circuit. Power assistance for the pilot and artificial feel. Dynamic stability: an introduction. Stability derivatives. Orbit of a body under gravity. Orbit changes and spacecraft manoeuvre. Flight test laboratory. Topics for self study that could be examined.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

ME30041 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • UEME-AFB26 : BEng(Hons) Aerospace Engineering (Year 3)
  • UEME-AKB26 : BEng(Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UEME-AFM04 : MEng(Hons) Aerospace Engineering (Year 3)
  • UEME-AKM04 : MEng(Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 4)

ME30041 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • UEME-AFM16 : MEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering (Year 4)
  • UEME-AKM16 : MEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 5)
  • UEME-AFM41 : MEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design and Innovation (Year 4)
  • UEME-AKM41 : MEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design and Innovation with Year long work placement (Year 5)
  • UEME-AFM38 : MEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management (Year 4)
  • UEME-AKM38 : MEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management with Year long work placement (Year 5)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2015/16 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2016/17 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2015/16.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.