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Coupling Dynamics in Aircraft: A Historical PerspectiveCoupling dynamics can produce either adverse or beneficial stability and controllability, depending on the characteristics of the aircraft. This report presents archival anecdotes and analyses of coupling problems experienced by the X-series, Century series, and Space Shuttle aircraft. The three catastrophic sequential coupling modes of the X-2 airplane and the two simultaneous unstable modes of the X-15 and Space Shuttle aircraft are discussed. In addition, the most complex of the coupling interactions, inertia roll coupling, is discussed for the X-2, X-3, F-100A, and YF-102 aircraft. The mechanics of gyroscopics, centrifugal effect, and resonance in coupling dynamics are described. The coupling modes discussed are interacting multiple degrees of freedom of inertial and aerodynamic forces and moments. The aircraft are assumed to be rigid bodies. Structural couplings are not addressed. Various solutions for coupling instabilities are discussed.
Document ID
19970019603
Acquisition Source
Armstrong Flight Research Center
Document Type
Special Publication (SP)
Authors
Day, Richard E.
(NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Edwards, CA United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1997
Subject Category
Aircraft Stability And Control
Report/Patent Number
NASA-SP-532
NAS 1.21:532
H-2106
Accession Number
97N21299
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS2-13445
PROJECT: RTOP 953-36-00
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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