Helicopter Flight Dynamics, 3rd Edition

Helicopter Flight Dynamics, 3rd Edition

by Gareth D. Padfield
Released November 2018
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781119401056

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

The Book

The behaviour of helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft is so complex that understanding the physical mechanisms at work in trim, stability and response, and thus the prediction of Flying Qualities, requires a framework of analytical and numerical modelling and simulation. Good Flying Qualities are vital for ensuring that mission performance is achievable with safety and, in the first and second editions of Helicopter Flight Dynamics, a comprehensive treatment of design criteria was presented, relating to both normal and degraded Flying Qualities. Fully embracing the consequences of Degraded Flying Qualities during the design phase will contribute positively to safety. In this third edition, two new Chapters are included. Chapter 9 takes the reader on a journey from the origins of the story of Flying Qualities, tracing key contributions to the developing maturity and to the current position. Chapter 10 provides a comprehensive treatment of the Flight Dynamics of tiltrotor aircraft; informed by research activities and the limited data on operational aircraft. Many of the unique behavioural characteristics of tiltrotors are revealed for the first time in this book. 

The accurate prediction and assessment of Flying Qualities draws on the modelling and simulation discipline on the one hand and testing practice on the other. Checking predictions in flight requires clearly defined mission tasks, derived from realistic performance requirements. High fidelity simulations also form the basis for the design of stability and control augmentation systems, essential for conferring Level 1 Flying Qualities. The integrated description of flight dynamic modelling, simulation and flying qualities of rotorcraft forms the subject of this book, which will be of interest to engineers practising and honing their skills in research laboratories, academia and manufacturing industries, test pilots and flight test engineers, and as a reference for graduate and postgraduate students in aerospace engineering.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Series Preface
  4. Preface to Third Edition
  5. Preface to Second Edition
  6. Preface to First Edition
  7. Acknowledgements
  8. Notation
    1. Subscripts
    2. Dressings
  9. List of Abbreviations
  10. Chapter 1: Introduction
    1. 1.1 Simulation Modelling
    2. 1.2 Flying Qualities
    3. 1.3 Missing Topics
    4. 1.4 Simple Guide to the Book
  11. Chapter 2: Helicopter and Tiltrotor Flight Dynamics – An Introductory Tour
    1. 2.1 Introduction
    2. 2.2 Four Reference Points
    3. 2.3 Modelling Helicopter/Tiltrotor Flight Dynamics
    4. 2.4 Flying Qualities
    5. 2.5 Design for Flying Qualities; Stability and Control Augmentation
    6. 2.6 Tiltrotor Flight Dynamics
    7. 2.7 Chapter Review
  12. Chapter 3 Modelling Helicopter Flight Dynamics: Building a Simulation Model
    1. 3.1 Introduction and Scope
    2. 3.2 The Formulation of Helicopter Forces and Moments in Level 1 Modelling
    3. 3.3 Integrated Equations of Motion of the Helicopter
    4. 3.4 Beyond Level 1 Modelling
    5. 3.5 Chapter 3 Epilogue
    6. Appendix 3A Frames of Reference and Coordinate Transformations
  13. Chapter 4 Modelling Helicopter Flight Dynamics: Trim and Stability Analysis
    1. 4.1 Introduction and Scope
    2. 4.2 Trim Analysis
    3. 4.3 Stability Analysis
    4. Appendix 4A The Analysis of Linear Dynamic Systems (with Special Reference to 6‐Dof Helicopter Flight)
    5. Appendix 4B The Three Case Helicopters: Lynx, Bo105 and Puma
    6. Appendix 4C. The Trim Orientation Problem
  14. Chapter 5: Modelling Helicopter Flight Dynamics: Stability Under Constraint and Response Analysis
    1. 5.1 Introduction and Scope
    2. 5.2 Stability Under Constraint
    3. 5.3 Analysis of Response to Controls
    4. 5.4 Response to Atmospheric Disturbances
    5. Appendix 5A Speed Stability Below Minimum Power; A Forgotten Problem?
  15. Chapter 6: Flying Qualities: Objective Assessment and Criteria Development
    1. 6.1 General Introduction to Flying Qualities
    2. 6.2 Introduction and Scope: The Objective Measurement of Quality
    3. 6.3 Roll Axis Response Criteria
    4. 6.4 Pitch Axis Response Criteria
    5. 6.5 Heave Axis Response Criteria
    6. 6.6 Yaw Axis Response Criteria
    7. 6.7 Cross‐Coupling Criteria
    8. 6.8 Multi‐Axis Response Criteria and Novel‐Response Types
    9. 6.9 Objective Criteria Revisited
  16. Chapter 7: Flying Qualities: Subjective Assessment and Other Topics
    1. 7.1 Introduction and Scope
    2. 7.2 The Subjective Assessment of Flying Quality
    3. 7.3 Special Flying Qualities
    4. 7.4 Pilot's Controllers
    5. 7.5 The Contribution of Flying Qualities to Operational Effectiveness and the Safety of Flight
  17. Chapter 8: Flying Qualities: Forms of Degradation
    1. 8.1 Introduction and Scope
    2. 8.2 Flight in Degraded Visual Environments
    3. 8.3 Handling Qualities Degradation through Flight System Failures
    4. 8.4 Encounters with Atmospheric Disturbances
    5. 8.5 Chapter Review
    6. 8A HELIFLIGHT, HELIFLIGHT‐R, and FLIGHTLAB at the University of Liverpool
    7. FLIGHTLAB
    8. 8A.3 HELIFLIGHT‐R
  18. Chapter 9: Flying Qualities: The Story of an Idea
    1. 9.1 Introduction and Scope
    2. 9.2 Historical Context of Rotorcraft Flying Qualities
    3. 9.3 Handling Qualities as a Performance Metric – The Development of ADS‐33
    4. 9.4 The UK MoD Approach
    5. 9.5 Roll Control; A Driver for Rotor Design
    6. 9.6 Helicopter Agility
    7. 9.7 The Future Challenges for Rotorcraft Handling Qualities Engineering
  19. Chapter 10: Tiltrotor Aircraft: Modelling and Flying Qualities
    1. 10.1 Introduction and Scope
    2. 10.2 Modelling and Simulation of Tiltrotor Aircraft Flight Dynamics
    3. 10.3 The Flying Qualities of Tiltrotor Aircraft
    4. 10.4 Load Alleviation versus Flying Qualities for Tiltrotor Aircraft
    5. 10.5 Chapter Epilogue; Tempus Fugit for Tiltrotors
    6. Appendix 10A Flightlab Axes Systems and Gimbal Flapping Dynamics
    7. Appendix 10B The XV‐15 Tiltrotor
    8. Appendix 10C The FXV-15 Stability and Control Derivatives
    9. Appendix 10D Proprotor Gimbal Dynamics in Airplane Mode
    10. Appendix 10E Tiltrotor Directional Instability Through Constrained Roll Motion: An Elusive, Paradoxical Dynamic
  20. References
    1. Chapter 1
    2. Chapter 2
    3. Chapter 3
    4. Chapter 4
    5. Chapter 5
    6. Chapter 6
    7. Chapter 7
    8. Chapter 8
    9. Chapter 9
    10. Chapter 10
  21. Index
  22. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Helicopter Flight Dynamics, 3rd Edition
  • Author(s): Gareth D. Padfield
  • Release date: November 2018
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781119401056