Duration
26h Th, 26h Pr
Number of credits
| Master of Science (MSc) in Aerospace Engineering | 5 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Flight dynamics is the science that investigates the control of aircraft and other flying vehicles. From the time of the Wright brothers it was recognised that flight without control is impossible. Since then, several different concepts for controlling aircraft flight have been devised including control surfaces, deformable surfaces and others. This course introduces some of these concepts and describes their operation, as well as the degree of stability that they can provide. Both aircraft and helicopters are addressed.
Modern aircraft control is ensured through automatic control systems. Their role is to increase safety, facilitate the pilot's task and improve flight qualities. The course will introduce modern aircraft control and discuss some of its objectives and applications.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the subject of flight mechanics and aircraft performance.
The detailed topics to be introduced are:
- Introduction to aircraft control and control surfaces
- Aircraft static stability
- Development of the aircraft equations of motion
- Linearization and decoupling of the equations of motion
- Solutions and investigations of dynamic phenomena
- Introduction to automatic control
- Stability augmentation
- Helicopters
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Prerequisite
MECA0025-1 Fluid mechanics
Co-requisites
AERO0001-1 Aerodynamics
APRI0004-1 Aerospace design project
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Matlab workshops on: - Solution of the aircraft equations of motion - Investigation of aircraft dynamic modes Worked examples in every lecture
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
Face-to-face in English
Recommended or required readings
The lecture notes are available online in the form of Powerpoint presentations at the address:
http://www.ltas-aea.ulg.ac.be/cms/index.php?page=flight-dynamics-course
Recomended textbooks:
- M. V. Cook, Flight Dynamic Principles, Arnold, 1997
- N. X. Vinh, Flight Mechanics of High-performance Aircraft, Cambridge Aerospace,
Cambridge Aerospace Series, 1995
Assessment methods and criteria
Assessment is performed through: - A written exam
Work placement(s)
N/A
Organizational remarks
The lectures are held on Fridays at 2pm in lecture room TP40 of building B52
Contacts
Lecturer: Prof. G. Dimitriadis Aeroelasticity and Experimental Aerodynamics (AEA) Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering 1 Chemin des Chevreuils (B52/3) Room +2/424 Tel: +32 (0)4 3669815 Email: gdimitriadis@ulg.ac.be
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session
Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning
Assessment subjects
Assessment methods
This year, due to the coronavirus panic, the assessment of this course will be based on the following three elements:
1a. An individual project on the flight dynamics part of the course (G. Dimitriadis) will be handed out to the students before the end of April. The students will have until May 27 at 6pm to submit their reports. Any late reports will be considered as absences.
1b. Each student will give a five-minute oral presentation of their flight dynamics report by videoconference on the day of the exam, Wednesday June 3 2020, between 8:30am and 12:30 pm. A presentation schedule will be sent out in due course. Any student that does not give a presentation will be considered as absent. The report and presentation will constitute 70% of the mark.
3. An individual project on the control part of the course (C. Collette) will be handed out to the students before the end of April. The students will have until May 27 at 6pm to submit their reports. Any late reports will be considered as absences. This report will constitute 30% of the mark.