Flight dynamics –II Prof. E.G.

Tulapurkara
Stability and control

Chapter 6
Lateral static stability and control
(Lectures 19,20 and 21)
Keywords : Dihedral effect ; criterion for stable directional effect ( Clβ );

contributions of wing, fuselage, vertical tail and power to Clβ ; choice of dihedral

angle; aileron, differential aileron and spoiler aileron ; rolling moment due to
aileron deflection ; damping moment ; aerodynamic balancing ; trim tab, balance
tab and servo tab.
Topics
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Static stability of motion about x-axis – dihedral effect
6.3 Rolling moment and its convention
6.4 Criterion for stabilizing dihedral effect
6.5 Contribution of wing to C′lβ
6.5.1 Contribution of wing dihedral angle to C′lβ
6.5.2 Contribution of wing sweep to C′lβ
6.6. Contribution of fuselage to C′lβ
6.7 Contribution of vertical tail to C′lβ
6.8 Contributions of propeller and flaps to C′lβ
6.9 Selection of dihedral angle
6.9.1 Wing with anhedral
6.10 Roll control
6.10.1 Aileron, diferential aileron and spoiler aileron
6.10.2 Rolling moment due to aileron
6.10.3 Damping moment
6.10.4 Rate of roll achieved
6.10.5 Aileron power
6.10.6 Control force due to aileron
6.11 General discussions on control surface
6.11.1 Aerodynamic balancing

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Flight dynamics –II Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Stability and control
6.11.2 Set back hinge or over hang balance
6.11.3 Horn balanace
6.11.4 Internal balance or internal seal
6.11.5 Frise aileron
6.11.6 Tabs – introductory remark
6.11.7 Trim tab
6.11.8 Link balance tab
6.11.9 Servo tab
6.12 Power boosted and power operated controls and fly-by-wire
6.13 miscelleneous topics
6.13.1 Mass balancing of controls
6.13.2 All movable tail
6.13.3 Elevons
6.13.4 V– tail
6.13.5 Configuration with two vertical tails
Reference
Exercises

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Flight dynamics –II Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Stability and control

Chapter 6
Lateral static stability and control - 1
Lecture 19
Topics
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Static stability of motion about x-axis – dihedral effect
6.3 Rolling moment and its convention
6.4 Criterion for stabilizing dihedral effect
6.5 Contribution of wing to C′lβ
6.5.1 Contribution of wing dihedral angle to C′lβ
6.5.2 Contribution of wing sweep to C′lβ
6.6. Contribution of fuselage to C′lβ
6.7 Contribution of vertical tail to C′lβ
6.8 Contributions of propeller and flaps to C′lβ
6.9 Selection of dihedral angle
6.9.1 Wing with anhedral

6.1 Introduction
Chapters 2 to 4 dealt with the static stability and control of motion about
the y-axis. Subsequently, chapter 5 dealt with the static stability and control of
motion about the z-axis. In this chapter, the static stability and control of motion
about the x-axis are discussed. However, as mentioned in section 5.1, the lateral
and directional motions are interlinked and this aspect is highlighted when
needed.
6.2 Static stability of motion about x-axis – dihedral effect
The lateral stability analysis deals with the motion about x-axis. In this
context the following three points may be noted.
(a) The rotation about x-axis leads to the bank angle Φ (Fig.1.12).
(b) A disturbance would change the bank angle from Φ to (Φ + Δ Φ).

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Flight dynamics –II Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Stability and control
(c) For static stability about x-axis, an airplane should develop, a rolling moment
to bring the airplane to the original bank angle.
To examine the lateral static stability,consider an airplane in a steady,
level flight. In this flight the x-axis coincides with the velocity vector (V) and Φ= 0.
Let the airplane be given a bank angle Φ gently so that the rate of roll is
negligible. It is noticed that even in the banked position the aerodynamic field
remains symmetric about the plane of symmetry. Hence, no restoring rolling
moment is produced. Thus, the airplane is neutrally stable about x-axis. The
restoring moment is brought about in the following manner.
(1) when an airplane acquires a bank angle a component of the weight,
W sinΦ, acts in the y-direction and the airplane begins to sideslip. Consider a roll
to right, i.e. right wing down. Due to W sinΦ, the airplane begins to sideslip to
right or experiences a relative wind from right to left. This produces a positive β.
(2) If the airplane is rolled to right with an angular velocity ‘p’ then, as pointed out
in subsection 5.8.1 (on adverse yaw), the airplane develops yaw to left. Which
results again in a positive β.
(3) When an airplane has a sideslip it produces both rolling moment and yawing
moment. If the rolling moment so produced, tends to restore the airplane to the
original attitude of Φ = 0, then it can be considered as a stabilizing effect.
Rolling moment due to sideslip is called dihedral effect.
Remark:
Some books (e.g. Ref.1.5) do not discuss static stability about x-axis.
However, continuing with Ref.1.1, chapter 2, Ref.1.7, chapter 8 and Ref.1.12,
chapter 3, this topic is treated in this chapter.
6.3. Rolling moment and its convention
Rolling moment is denoted as L′ to distinguish it from lift which is denoted
by L. This notation is also used in Ref.3.1.
Rolling moment coefficient is denoted as C’l i.e.

' L'
C =
l (6.1)
1
ρ V 2Sb
2

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Flight dynamics –II Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Stability and control
Convention for rolling moment
A rolling moment which causes roll to right or right wing down, is taken as
positive. It may be recalled that a moment is positive in clockwise direction when
looking along the positive direction of the axis.
6.4 Criterion for stabilizing dihedral effect
As mentioned earlier, a bank to right produces positive β. This β should
produce a negative L′ to bring the airplane back to zero roll. Hence, for stabilizing
effect, C′lβ should be negative.
The contribution to C’ lβ can be expressed as:
C'lβ = (C'lβ )w +(C'lβ )f,n,p +(C'lβ )vt (6.2)

6.5 Contribution of wing to C′lβ

The contributions of wing to C'lβ are due to the dihedral angle ( Γ ) and the

sweep (Λ).
6.5.1 Contribution of wing dihedral angle to C′lβ
A wing is said to have a dihedral, when the tips of the wing are at a higher
level than the root of the wing (Fig.6.1). The contribution to C′lβ due to dihedral
angle ( Γ ) can be calculated with the following steps.
(a) Assume that the airplane rolls to right.
(b) It develops positive β.
(c) Vsin β is the sideward component of the relative velocity (side wind).
(d) The component of the side wind (V sin β) perpendicular to the wing is
V sin β sin Γ. But, it is upward on the right wing and downward on the left wing
(Fig.6.1).
(e) Δα, the magnitude of the change in the angle of attack on the two wing
halves, is:
V sinβ sinΓ v
Δα = Γ β = Γ
V V
v = Vsin β is the sideward velocity.

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Flight dynamics –II Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Stability and control

Fig 6.1 Contribution of dihedral angle to C’l

(f) However, Δα on the right wing = βΓ and Δα on the left wing = -βΓ. Hence, the
lifts on the two wing halves are unequal and a rolling moment is produced.
Rolling moment due to Δα on the right wing is:
b/2
1 dCL
L'wr = - ρ V 2
2 dα
Δα  c y dy
0
Note: ΔCL = Δα (dCL/dα)

Rolling moment due to Δα on the left wing is:

b/2
1 dCL
L'wl = - ρ V 2 Δα  c y dy Note: Δα is negative on left wing.
2 dα 0

Finally ,
b/2
1 dCL
(L'w )Γ = -2 ρ V 2 Δα  c y dy
2 dα 0

2 b/2
Substituting Δα = β Γ and y=  c y dy , gives :
S 0

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Flight dynamics –II Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Stability and control
1 dCL S
(L'w )Γ = -2 ρ V2 Γβ y (6.3)
2 dα 2
1 dCL y
Or (C'l w )Γ = (L'w )Γ / ( ρ V 2 S b) = - Γ β (6.4)
2 dα b
dCL y
Hence, (C'lβ ) = - Γ (6.4a)
dα b
Remarks:
i)It may be noted that the contribution of dihedral to Clβ' is negative.Since, Clβ'

should be negative for static stability, the contribution of dihedral to Clβ' is called

a stabilizing contribution.
ii)For a wing with taper ratio λ, Eq.(6.4a) gives:
dCL  2(1+2λ) 
(Clβ' )Γ =-0.25 Γ per radian (6.5)
dα  3(1+λ) 
iii) Reference 1.12 chapter 3 and Ref.2.2, section 5.1.2 give refined estimates of
(Clβ' )Γ .

6.5.2 Contribution of wing to sweep to C′lβ

While discussing the contribution of wing sweep to Cnβ, it was pointed out
in section 5.3 that for a wing with sideslip, the normal components of free stream
velocity (V) are different on the two wing halves (Fig.5.2). This gives rise to
different drags on the two wing halves and contributes to yawing moment.
Similarly, the difference in normal velocity components would result in the lift on
the two wing halves being different in this case. This would give rise to a rolling
moment. The contribution of sweep to C′lβ is obtained by the following steps.
The contributions of the right wing and left wing to the rolling moment are:
S 1
(L'wr )Λ = - CL ρ V2 y cos2 (Λ - β) (6.6)
2 2
S1
(L'wl )Λ = CL ρ V2 y cos2 (Λ + β) (6.7)
22
S1
Hence,(L' w )Λ = - CL ρ V2 y {cos2 (Λ - β) - cos2 (Λ + β)}
22

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Flight dynamics –II Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Stability and control
S 1
= - CL ρV2 y {4cosΛ cosβ sinΛ sinβ} (6.8)
2 2
where, y is the location of the resultant lift on the wing half.
Since, β is small,
1
(L' w )Λ = - CL ρ V2 S y β sin 2Λ (6.9)
2
y
(Clβw )Λ = - CL β sin 2Λ (6.10)
b
y
(Clβw )Λ = - CL sin2Λ (6.11)
b
Remarks:
i) The contribution due to sweep back is negative and hence stabilizing. Note
that it is proportional to CL.
ii) Reference 1.12 gives an improved estimate of (Clβw )Λ . The value of (Clβw )Λ

given by this reference, increases monotonically with  .

6.6 Contribution of fuselage to C’lβ
The contribution of fuselage to C′lβ arises due to the interference effect.
Consider an airplane having positive β or the sideward velocity component
(v = V sinβ) from right to left. Figure 6.2 shows the displacement of streamlines
for high wing and low wing configurations. It is observed that for the high wing
case the change in angle of attack, Δα, is positive on the right wing and negative
on the left wing. This would result in a negative rolling moment which is a
stabilizing contribution. For a low wing configuration the effect would be opposite
and a destabilizing contribution. References 1.8b and 1.12, give elaborate
methods of estimating effect of wing fuselage interference. Reference 1.7
chapter 9 gives the following approximate estimates for high wing, mid-wing and
low wing cases.

ΔC′lβ = - 0.0006 deg-1 for high wing,

= 0.00 for mid-wing and
= +0.0006 deg-1 for low wing configuration.

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Flight dynamics –II Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Stability and control

Fig 6.2 Effect of wing location on C′lβ

6.7 Contribution of vertical tail to C′lβ
It is shown in section 5.6 that a vertical tail with a positive β causes a
negative side force. This side force generally acts above the c.g and would
contribute a negative rolling moment (Fig.6.3).

Fig.6.3 Contribution of vertical tail to C′lβ

The contribution of vertical tail can be expressed as:
L ' = - Yv Zv (6.12)

1 2 dC
=- ρV ηv Sv ( L )v βZ v
2 dα

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Flight dynamics –II Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Stability and control
Sv Z v
Hence, (C'lβ )v = - ηv CLαv (6.13)
S b
Remarks:
i) When the airplane has an angle of attack (α) the height Zv will depend on the
tail length lv and the angle of attack α. The example presented in appendix ‘C’
takes into account this correction.
ii) Generally (C′lβ)v is small.
6.8 Contributions due to propeller and flaps to C’lβ
Figure 5.6 shows a propeller in positive sideslip. As pointed out in section
5.5 the slipstream is rendered asymmetric due to sideslip. A larger portion of the
left wing is influenced by the slipstream as compared to that on the right wing.
Hence, the left wing will experience a higher dynamic pressure and consequently
will produce more lift as compared to the right wing. This causes a positive rolling
moment. Hence, C′lβ is positive, i.e. a destabilizing contribution. This influence
worsens when the flaps are deflected (Fig.5.6). However, the contributions due to
propeller and flap to C′lβ are small.
6.9 Selection of dihedral angle
As noted earlier (Exercise 2.6 and Example 5.2), the levels of
longitudinal and directional static stability (Cmα and Cnβ) can be adjusted by
changing the areas of the horizontal tail (St) and the vertical tail (Sv) respectively.
The level of C′lβ, can be adjusted by choosing an appropriate dihedral angle. To
arrive at the dihedral angle needed for an airplane, the contributions due to wing
sweep, fuselage, power plant and vertical tail are first calculated. Then, the
difference between the sum of these contributions and the desirable level of C′lβ
is provided by choosing an appropriate dihedral angle.
Reference 1.7 chapter 9, provides a rough guideline as:
(C′lβ )desirable = - (Cnβ /2) (6.14)
However, the data on seven airplanes given in appendix ‘B’ of reference
1.1 indicates that Eq.(6.14) may be approximately valid for military airplanes. For
other airplanes, C′lβ could be equal to or higher than Cnβ. Actual values of C′lβ and

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Flight dynamics –II Prof. E.G. Tulapurkara
Stability and control
Cnβ are arrived at after carrying out the lateral dynamic stability analysis (refer to
chapter 9).
6.9.1 Wing with anhedral
As mentioned earlier, C′lβ should not be too high. When an airplane has
highly swept wings and in addition has high wing configuration then the
contributions due to these factors may be large. Sometimes, such airplanes have
negative dihedral which is called anhedral (Fig.6.4).

Fig.6.4 An airplane with anehedral

(Note: swept and high wing configuration)

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