AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference and Exhibit · 2007 · 18 citations · 22 references
EngineeringAerospace EngineeringSystems EngineeringAerodynamicsFlight DynamicsFlight MechanicsAircraft TrimFlight PerformanceFlight SimulationLateral-directional Flight DynamicsLongitudinal Flight DynamicsManeuvering FlightDynamic Transient BehaviorFlight Dynamics ModelingLateral DynamicsLateral-directional AerodynamicsLateral-directional CouplingMorphingMorphing Aircraft ConfigurationTrimmed Flight Path
Mission capability can be enabled by morphing an aircraft to optimize its aerodynamics and associated flight dynamics for each maneuver. Such optimization often consider the steady-state behavior of the configuration; however, the transient behavior must also be analyzed. In particular, the time-varying inertias have an effect on the flight dynamics that can adversely affect mission performance if not properly compensated. These inertia terms cause coupling between the longitudinal and lateral-directional dynamics even for maneuvers around trim. A simulation of a variable-sweep aircraft undergoing a symmetric morphing for an altitude change shows a noticeable lateral translation in the flight path because of the induced asymmetry.
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