Abstract
In the quest for making aircraft more energy-efficient, configuration, and primarily the arrangement and quality of aerodynamic surfaces, play a relevant role. In a previous comparative study by the authors, it was shown how to obtain a significant increase in cruise performance by adopting a three-surface configuration instead of a classical pure back-tailed design. In this paper, an analysis of the same configurations in take-off is carried out, to assess through a fair comparison the potential effect of a three-surface one especially on take-off distance. Take-off is mathematically described by means of a sound analytic approach. Take-off distance is computed for a baseline two-surface aircraft, and in a later stage on a three-surface one. In addition to exploring the performance, a numerical optimization is also deployed, so as to find the best use of both configurations analyzed (i.e., baseline and three-surface) in take-off, and the corresponding top performance. The quality of the optimum, as well as the practical realization of a control link between the yoke and both control surfaces in the three-surface configuration, are analyzed in depth. The paper describes the advantage which can be attained by selecting a three-surface configuration, and proposes some remarks concerning the practical implementation of the maneuver to actually capture an optimal performance.
Highlights
Reaching production only in rare instances, three-surface aircraft have been accurately studied, especially in comparison to more traditional configurations
They invariably show that a three-surface aircraft is feasible, while implying the need for some more sophistication in aerodynamic and structural design, with respect to more standard configurations
Following in the same line, the present paper further explores the potential of threesurface configuration, by moving on to terminal maneuvers, and to take-off
Summary
Reaching production only in rare instances, three-surface aircraft have been accurately studied, especially in comparison to more traditional configurations. For high performance aircraft in canard or three-surface configurations (typically fighters), a close aerodynamic coupling between surfaces prevents the use of standard design and performance prediction techniques, complicating the assessment of advantages with respect to more traditional configurations at a preliminary design level. In order to systematically analyze the take-off maneuver and assess the performance of a three-surfaced aircraft with respect to a standard, back-tailed configuration, a general model for longitudinal dynamics in take-off will be introduced at first. In this model, the take-off trajectory is obtained accounting for the motion in the vertical plane of an aircraft with a tricycle undercarriage. The robustness of the optimal performance with respect to a different choice of the tuning of the mechanical link, possibly constrained by other requirements, will be assessed
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