The goal is to analyze the dynamic lateral and longitudinal stability.

This includes finding time it takes to trim from a perturbation and the damping and oscillation of the aircraft based on aerodynamic characteristics.

Dynamic Stability Characteristics (Long and Short Periods):

• Time Constant
• Time (1/2 & 2 Amplitude)
• Damping Ratio
• Natural Frequency
• Damped Frequency
• Period of Oscillation

Dynamic stability analysis using concepts from EAE 129

THE PLAN:

The plan is to take configuration and mass files from AVL and generate a wrapper in Python where I can call those files and it will output the dynamic stability characteristics in a text format and a visual format (used to visualize what the characteristics mean). Based on the output, the necessary adjustments can be recommended.

Most of these characteristics are based on the Equations of Motion and the corresponding eigenvalues in response to a perturbation. I will be using linearized Equations of Motion by utilizing the small-disturbance theory. This theory states that any perturbation is small when compared to the aircrafts overall motion.

These Equations of Motion can either calculated in Python, or in AVL itself. AVL also has a simulation mode that simulated different disturbances acting upon the aircraft and generates the changes in time.