Maneuverability analysis on flying vehicle with thrust vectoring system

Abstract

Fighter aircraft often require unconventional maneuverability that civil aircraft cannot perform. The conventional flight control devices are not sufficient for this maneuver. Thus, to be able to perform unconventional maneuvers, additional control devices may be required, such as the thrust vectoring system (TVS). This paper will discuss the effect of TVS implementation in improving maneuverability. In this work, a dynamic model of F-4 Phantom is used as the basis for the study. The dynamic model of the aircraft with TVS is constructed analytically and numerically. The nonlinear model obtained from the modeling process then linearized at a particular flight condition and some TVS deflection values. Further, the linear system and control approach is employed for evaluating and designing the linear controllers for stabilization and maneuvering tasks. The closed-loop system, which is implemented in the MATLAB/Simulink environment, then numerically simulated and observed for analyzing the effect of implementing different TVS deflection on the required control effort in high angle of attack maneuvers. The simulation results show that the TVS can affect the performance of the closed-loop system in stabilization tasks. While at some deflection values, TVS can also help to reduce the required control effort to tracking attitude reference command when executing the high angle of attack maneuvers.