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Presentation
An Alternate Dimensionless Form of the Linearized Rigid-Body Aircraft Equations of Motion with Emphasis on Dynamic Parameters
AIAA SciTech Forum
  • Douglas F. Hunsaker, Utah State University
  • Benjamin C. Moulton, Utah State University
Document Type
Presentation
Location
National Harbor, MD
Publication Date
1-19-2023
Abstract

The equations of motion for an aircraft can be linearized about a reference condition within the assumptions of small disturbances and linear aerodynamics. The resulting system of equations is typically solved to obtain the eigenvalues and eigenvectors that describe the small disturbance motion of the aircraft. Results from such an analysis are often used to predict the rigid-body dynamic modes of the aircraft and associated handling qualities. This process is typically carried out in dimensional form in most text books, or in nondimensional form using dimensionless parameters rooted in aerodynamic theory. Here we apply Buckingham’s Pi theorem to obtain nondimensional parameters based on the aircraft rigid-body dynamics rather than aerodynamics. This approach may be more useful for understanding how aircraft dynamics scale with appropriate design parameters.

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Copyright © 2023 by Douglas F. Hunsaker and Benjamin C. Moulton. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., with permission.

Version 2 uploaded 2023-06-08.

Citation Information
Hunsaker, D. F., and Moulton, B. C., “An Alternate Dimensionless Form of the Linearized Rigid-Body Aircraft Equations of Motion with Emphasis on Dynamic Parameters,” AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum, January 2023, AIAA-2023-1366 DOI: 10.2514/6.2023-1366