Aircraft safety analysis based on differential manifold theory and bifurcation method

Abstract

Loss of control (LOC) is considered one of the leading causes of fatal aircraft accidents worldwide. Reducing LOC is critical to improve flight safety. Although it is still vaguely defined, LOC is generally associated with a flight state that is outside the safety envelope, with nonlinear influences of aircraft dynamics and incorrect handling by the flight crew. We have studied how nonlinear factors and pilot operations contribute to LOC. In this study, the stall point and bifurcation point are confirmed using the bifurcation analysis, and the results show that the aircraft will stall when excessive elevator movement is commanded. Moreover, even though there may be an equilibrium state in one of the elevator deflections, the flight state may still be outside the flight safety envelope. When the flight state is near the edge of the flight safety envelope, the strategy to regulate the elevator deflection is super-sensitive, and a slight change in the elevator deflection may contribute to a flight state outside the safety envelope. To solve this issue, the differential manifold theory is introduced to determine the safety envelope. Examples are provided using NASA’s generic transport model.