Project Overview

My dissertation research is on the dynamic stability and dynamic mode characteristics of asymmetric aircraft configurations. I am studying the coupling between the longitudinal and lateral modes resulting from aircraft asymmetries introduced through the aerodynamic derivatives, lateral shifts in the center of gravity, and large values for the products of inertia.

My dissertation work has required developing skills in:

• Low-fidelity aerodynamic analysis and flight dynamics modeling

• Aircraft flight simulation and trim

• Linearized aircraft equations of motion

• Eigenanalysis methods for dynamic stability analyses

Dynamic Stability Analysis

Whereas most linearized analyses for rigid-body aircraft assume aircraft symmetry, my work involves the development of linearized rigid-body aircraft equations of motion for asymmetric aircraft using an arbitrary orientation of the body-fixed axes. The resulting linearized equations of motion can be used to analyze the dynamic stability properties of both asymmetric aircraft and more traditional aircraft configurations.

I am currently studying the difference in predicted dynamic mode characteristics between classical methods and this asymmetric formulation. Additionally, I am studying the changes to dynamic mode characteristics as a result of unique asymmetric configurations. This includes the effects of the BIRE design introduced below.

AFRL BIRE Project