11/17/2014

FLIGHT DYNAMICS & STABILITY

Lecture 02-8: Hinge Moments

11/17/2014

Hinge Moment

The aerodynamic forces on any control surface produce a

moment about the hinge known as the hinge moment

11/17/2014

Effect of Hinge Moment

The force that the control system must exert to hold

the elevator at the desired angle is in direct proportion
to the hinge moment

11/17/2014

Hinge Moment Coefficient

The hinge moment is roughly proportional to the square of

speed and cube of the airplane size

11/17/2014

Normal Force Distribution

Two-dimensional airfoil theory shows that the hinge

moment of simple flap controls is linear with angle of attack
and control angle in both subsonic and supersonic flow

11/17/2014

Elevator and Tab Deflection

11/17/2014

Trim Tab

11/17/2014

Hinge Moment Coefficient

The hinge moment parameters are very difficult

to predict analytically with great precision
Wind tunnel tests are usually required

11/17/2014

Free Elevator
A characteristic of interest is the stability of the
airplane when the elevator is set free
It is completely free to rotate about its hinge under the
influence of the aerodynamic pressures that act upon it
Normally, the stability in the control-free condition is
less than with fixed controls
It is desirable that this difference should be small
Since friction is always present in the control system,
the free control is never realized in practice. However,
the two ideal conditions, free control and fixed control,
represent the possible extremes.

11/17/2014

Stick-Free Longitudinal Stability

Let us assume that the elevator is mounted on a frictionless
hinge so that it can float freely under the action of
aerodynamic forces when allowed to do so.
The elevator will either float up or down depending on
location of the hinge-line relative to its center of pressure.

10

11/17/2014

Elevator Floating Characteristics

11

11/17/2014

Elevator Floating angle

Assuming that both and are equal to zero:

Usually, and are negative

12

11/17/2014

Tail Lift Coeff. with Free Elevator

13

11/17/2014

=
where

= 1

But

: Flap Effectiveness
Parameter

= 1

14

11/17/2014

Stick-Fixed Case
0 = 0 + 0 + 0 +

+ 1

Stick-Free Case

0 + 0 + +
0

+ 1

15

11/17/2014

Neutral Point
Stick-Fixed:

+
1

Stick-Free:

+
1

16

11/17/2014

Difference between NPs

17

11/17/2014

= 1
1

where

= 1

=
1

18

11/17/2014

Static Margins

19

11/17/2014

Example 1
Obtain the shift in the neutral point for an airplane if the values of some of its
parameters are: = 0.738, = 0.9, = 4.17 1 , = 3.43 1 ,

/ = 0.438. Assume = 0.5, = 0.005 1 , = 0.003 1 .

Solution:

= 1

= 1 0.5

0.003
= 0.7
0.005

= 1
1

3.43
= 1 0.7 0.738 0.9
1 0.438 = 0.0921
4.17
By freeing the stick, the neutral point has shifted forward by . or the static

margin has decreased by 0.0921. In other words,

= 0.0921 .

20

11/17/2014

Example 2
An airplane has the following characteristics:
= 0.085 1 , = 0.058 1 , / = 0.032,

= 0.003 1 , = 0.0055 1 , = 00 , 0 = 20 , = 10 ,

= 0.5 , = 0.25 , = 3 , / = 1500 /2 , . . = 0.25 ,

= 1.0,
= 0.37 1
,,

Obtain
i) Stick-fixed neutral point.
ii) Stick-free neutral point.
iii) Stick -free neutral point when is changed to 0.003.
Solution:

= 0.5,

= 0.25 3 = 0.75

21

11/17/2014

Stick-Fixed Neutral Point:

,,

+
1

0.37
3.323
= 0.25
+ 1.0 0.75
1 0.5 = 0.4301
4.87
4.87
Stick-Free Neutral Point:

,,

+
1

= 0.25

0.37
3.323
+ 1.0 0.75
1 0.5
4.87
4.87

0.032 0.003

0.058 0.0055

= 0.355
Stick-Free Neutral Point (when = 0.003):

= 0.25

0.37
3.323
+ 1.0 0.75
1 0.5
4.87
4.87

0.032 +0.003

0.058 0.0055

= 0.5051

22

11/17/2014

Trim Tabs
Small surfaces called trim tabs are connected to
the trailing edge of a bigger control surface on an
airplane such as its rudder, elevators, or ailerons.
The trim tabs counter aerodynamic forces and
stabilize the airplane in a desired position
without having the operator continually apply a
control force to the particular control surface.
This action is made by adjusting the angle of the
trim tab in relation to the larger control surface.

23

11/17/2014

Trim Wheel

24

11/17/2014

Trim with Trim Tab

25

11/17/2014

Trim Condition
In order to fly at a given speed, or CL , it has been
shown that a certain elevator angle is required
When this differs from the free-floating angle a
force is required to hold the elevator
When flying for long periods at a constant speed,
it is very fatiguing for the pilot to maintain such a
force
The trim tabs are used to relieve the pilot of this
load by causing and to coincide

26