Engineering topics

Rising, J. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Rising, J. J..

7 records

NASA NTRS1985

Handling qualities of a wide-body transport airplane utilizing Pitch Active Control Systems (PACS) for relaxed static stability application

Piloted simulation studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of two pitch active control systems (PACS) on the flying qualities of a wide-body transport airplane when operating at negative static margins. These two pitch active control systems consisted of a simple 'near-term' PACS and a more complex 'advanced' PACS. Eight different flight conditions, representing the entire flight envelope, were evaluated with emphasis on the cruise flight conditions. These studies were made utilizing the Langley Visual/Motion Simulator (VMS) which has six degrees of freedom. The simulation tests indicated that (1) the flying qualities of the baseline aircraft (PACS off) for the cruise and other high-speed flight conditions were unacceptable at center-of-gravity positions aft of the neutral static stability point; (2) within the linear static stability flight envelope, the near-term PACS provided acceptable flying qualities for static stabilty margins to -3 percent; and (3) with the advanced PACS operative, the flying qualities were demonstrated to be good (satisfactory to very acceptable) for static stabilty margins to -20 percent.

Grantham, William D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Demonstration of relaxed static stability on a commercial transport

The application of relaxed static stability was studied under a program to determine ways of improving the energy efficiency in current and future transport aircraft. Pitch active control systems (PACs) were developed for application in the near term to current aircraft and in the next generation to advanced aircrft of the future. Analyses identified potential drag benefits of: (1) 2% for current transport aircraft with neutral stability; and (2) as much as 17% for next generation aircraft with high aspect ratio supercritical wings which must operate 10 to 15% statistically unstable to achieve optimum performance. Flight test evaluations of the near-term PACs were conducted to a 3% mean aerodynamic chord (MAC) negative static margin on a Lockheed L-1011 aircraft. The advanced PACs was demonstrated to a 20% MAC negative static margin on a piloted visual motion simulator at the NASA Langley Research Center. Test results for both systems showed flying qualities characteristics as good as current conventional aircraft.

Rising, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

L-1011 testing with relaxed static stability

Wind tunnel and flight tests indicate that fuel savings of 2 percent can be achieved by center of gravity (C.G.) management for an L-1011 with the current wing configuration. The normal c.b. location is at 25 percent mean aerodynamic center (MAC). The maximum fuel saving occurs for a C.G. location of 35 percent MAC. However, flight at 35 percent requires that the C.G. range be extended aft of the 35-percent point. Flight at C.G. locations aft or 35 percent requires a pitch active control system (PACS) so that handling qualities are not significantly degraded. The development of this PACS is discussed.

Rising, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Demonstration of relaxed static stability on a commercial transport

Increasing jet aircraft fuel costs from 25 percent to nearly 60 percent of the aircraft direct operating costs have led to a heavy emphasis on the development of transport aircraft with significantly improved aerodynamic performance. The application of the concept of relaxed static stability (RSS) and the utilization of an active control stability augmentation system make it possible to design an aircraft with reduced aerodynamic trim drag due to a farther-aft cg balance. Reduced aerodynamic parasite drag and lower structural weight due to a smaller horizontal tail surface can also be obtained. The application of RSS has been studied under a NASA-sponsored program to determine ways of improving the energy efficiency in current and future transport aircraft. Attention is given to a near-term pitch active control system, an advanced pitch active control system, and an operational overview.

Rising, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

An advanced control system for a next generation transport aircraft

The use of modern control theory to develop a high-authority stability and control system for the next generation transport aircraft is described with examples taken from work performed on an advanced pitch active control system (PACS). The PACS was configured to have short-period and phugoid modes frequency and damping characteristics within the shaded S-plane areas, column force gradients with set bounds and with constant slope, and a blended normal-acceleration/pitch rate time history response to a step command. Details of the control law, feedback loop, and modal control syntheses are explored, as are compensation for the feedback gain, the deletion of the velocity signal, and the feed-forward compensation. Scheduling of the primary and secondary gains are discussed, together with control law mechanization, flying qualities analyses, and application on the L-1011 aircraft.

Rising, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Development and flight evaluation of an augmented stability active controls concept with a small horizontal tail

A limited authority pitch active control system (PACS) was developed for a wide body jet transport (L-1011) with a flying horizontal stabilizer. Two dual channel digital computers and the associated software provide command signals to a dual channel series servo which controls the stabilizer power actuators. Input sensor signals to the computer are pitch rate, column-trim position, and dynamic pressure. Control laws are given for the PACS and the system architecture is defined. The piloted flight simulation and vehicle system simulation tests performed to verify control laws and system operation prior to installation on the aircraft are discussed. Modifications to the basic aircraft are described. Flying qualities of the aircraft with the PACS on and off were evaluated. Handling qualities for cruise and high speed flight conditions with the c.g. at 39% mac ( + 1% stability margin) and PACS operating were judged to be as good as the handling qualities with the c.g. at 25% (+15% stability margin) and PACS off.

Rising, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Development and flight test evaluation of a pitch stability augmentation system for a relaxed stability L-1011

The L-1011 has been flight tested to demonstrate the relaxed static stability concept as a means of obtaining significant drag benefits to achieve a more energy efficient transport. Satisfactory handling qualities were maintained with the design of an active control horizontal tail for stability and control augmentation to allow operation of the L-1011 at centers of gravity close to the neutral point. Prior to flight test, a motion base visual flight simulator program was performed to optimize the augmentation system. The system was successfully demonstrated in a test program totaling forty-eight actual flight hours.

Rising, J. J.↗