MAE 5070

Dynamics of Flight Vehicles

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2016-2017.

Introduction to stability and control of atmospheric-flight vehicles. Review of aerodynamic forces and methods for analysis of linear systems. Static stability and control. Small disturbance equations of unsteady motion. Dynamic stability of longitudinal and lateral-directional motions; transient response. At the level of Flight: Stability and Automatic Control by Nelson.

When Offered Spring.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: MAE 3050. Prerequisite or corequisite: MAE 3260 or permission of instructor.

• Students will understand the nature of aerodynamic forces and moments (aerodynamic stability derivatives) in determining the motions of a flight vehicle.
• Understand the various terms in the equations of motion and the simplifications arising from assumptions of small disturbances from equilibrium flight and from the bi-lateral symmetry of most aircraft.
• Be able to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems in aircraft flight dynamics.
• Understand the principal constraints imposed on aircraft design by stability and controllability requirements.

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