LONGITUDINAL

STATIC STABILITY
PROGRAM STUDI TEKNIK PENERBANGAN
SEKOLAH TINGGI TEKNOLOGI ADISUTJIPTO
2016

INTRODUCTION
If an aircraft in equilibrium is momentarily
disturbed by a vertical gust, the resulting change
in angle of attack causes change in lift
coefficients on the aircraft (velocity is constant for
this time period.
The changes in lift coefficients produce additional
aerodynamic force and moment in this disturbed
position.

INTRODUCTION
If the aerodynamic forces and moments created
tendto return the aircraft to its original undisturbed
condition, the aircraft possesses positive
longitudinal static stability or is stable.

INTRODUCTION
If the forces and moments tend to cause the
aircraft to diverge further from equilibrium, the
aircraft possesses negative longitudinal static
stability or is unstable.

INTRODUCTION
Should the aircraft tend to remain in the disturbed
position, it possesses neutral stability.

INTRODUCTION
Since longitudinal static stability is concerned with
resultant aircraft pitching moments caused by
momentary changes in angle of attack and lift
coefficients, the primary stability derivatives
become :

dCm
Cm
d

or

dCm
Cm C L
dCL

INTRODUCTION
The value of either derivative is a direct indication
of the longitudinal static stability of the particular
aircraft.
To determine the derivative, a moment equation
will be determined from the forces and moments
acting on the aircraft.
Once this equation is nondimensionalized, in
moment coefficient form, the derivative with
respect to CL will be taken.

INTRODUCTION
Let consider the two airplanes
respective pitching moment curves .

and

their

INTRODUCTION
Point C
Suppose the airplane suddenly encounter an upward
gust such that the angle of attack is increased to point C.
Airplane 1 would develop a negative (nose-down)
pitching moment that would tend to rotate the airplane
back toward its equilibrium point.
Airplane 2 would develop a positive (nose-up) pitching
moment that would tend to rotate the airplane away form
the equilibrium point.

INTRODUCTION
Point A
Suppose the airplane suddenly encounter an downward
gust such that the angle of attack is reduced to point A.
Airplane 1 would develop a positive (nose-up) pitching
moment that would tend to rotate the airplane back
toward its equilibrium point.
Airplane 2 would develop a negative (nose-down)
pitching moment that would tend to rotate the airplane
away form the equilibrium point.

INTRODUCTION
The aicraft said to have static longitudinal stability the
aircraft pitching moment curve must have a negative
slope.

Cm 0

INTRODUCTION
The criterion can also use the Cm versus CL.

where

dCm dCm dCL

d
dCL d

CL 0

so

Cm C L 0

INTRODUCTION

Addition to having longitudinal static stability

Cm 0 0

INTRODUCTION
Contribution of Aircraft Components
1. Wing Contribution
2. Tail Contribution (Aft Tail)
3. Fuselage Contribution
4. Power Effect

WING CONTRIBUTION
The contribution of the wing to an airplanes static
stability can be examined with this figure.

WING CONTRIBUTION
If we sum the moments about the center of gravity

Moments M

cg w

M cg w Lw cos( w iw )[ xcg xac ] Dw sin( w iw )[ xcg xac ]

where

Lw sin( w iw )[ z cg ] Dw cos( w iw )[ z cg ] M ac w

M cg w

1
V 2 S Cm c
2

M ac w

1
V 2 S C m ac c
2

1
Lw V 2 S C L
2
Dw

1
V 2 S CD
2

WING CONTRIBUTION
1
Dividing by V 2 S c
2
xcg xac
xcg xac
Cm cg w CL w cos( w iw )

CD w sin( w iw )

c
c
c
c

zcg
zcg
CL w sin( w iw ) CD w cos( w iw ) Cm ac w
c
c

If we assume that the angle of attack is small, CL is

larger than CD and the vertical contribution is
negligible.

cos( w iw ) 1,

sin( w iw ) w iw ,
C L C D

WING CONTRIBUTION
The equation become

Cm cg w

xcg xac

Cm ac w CL w

c
c

Cm cg w

xcg xac

Cm ac w CL 0 w CL w w

c
c

where C L w C L 0 w C L w w

WING CONTRIBUTION
The equation become

Cm cg w

xcg xac
xcg xac
CL w
w
Cm ac w CL 0 w

c
c
c
c

Cm 0

Cm

WING CONTRIBUTION
So, the condition for longitudinal static stability
Cm 0 w

xcg xac

Cm ac w C L 0 w

c
c

Cm w

xcg xac

C L w

c
c

Cm 0 0

Cm 0

WING CONTRIBUTION
CG Effect on Wing Contribution to Stability
The position of the cg above or below the
aerodynamic center (ac) has a much smaller
effect on stability than does the position of the cg
ahead of or behind the ac.
The more forward the cg location, the more stable
the aircraft.

The further the cg is located below the ac, the

more stable the aircraft.

WING CONTRIBUTION

WING CONTRIBUTION
For a wing alone to be statically stable
1. The aerodynamic center must lie aft of the
center of gravity to make Cm < 0.
For many airplane, the center of gravity position is
located slightly aft of the aerodynamic center. Also,
the wing is normally constructed of airfoil profiles
having a positive camber.

WING CONTRIBUTION
2. Since we also want to be able to trim the
airplane at a positive angle of attack, the
pitching moment coefficient at zero angle of
attack Cm0 must be greater than 0.
A positive pitching moment about the aerodynamic
center can be achieved by using a negativecambered airfoil section or an airfoil section that has
a reflexed trailing edge.

WING CONTRIBUTION
Conclusion for Wing Contribution
Therefore, the wing contribution to static
longitudinal stability is destabilizing for most
conventional airplanes

PROBLEM 1
For given aircraft, the aerodynamic center lies
0.03 chord length ahead of the center of gravity.
The moment coefficient about the center of
gravity is 0.005, and the lift coefficient is 0.5.
Calculate the moment coefficient about the
aerodynamic center?

PROBLEM 1
Consider a model of a wing-body shape mounted in a wind tunnel.
The flow condition in the test section are standard sea-level
properties with a velocity of 100 m/s. The wing area and chord are
1.5 m2 and 0.45 m, respectively.
Using the wind tunnel force and moment-measuring balance, the
moment about the center of gravity when the lift is zero is found to
be -12.4 Nm.
When the model is pitched to another angle of attack, the lift and
moment about center of gravity are measured to be 3675 N and
20.67 Nm, respectively.
Calculate the value of the moment coefficient about the
aerodynamic center and the location of the aerodynamic center?