Stability and Control of Aircraft Systems

In the current climate of increasing complexity and functional integration in all areas of engineering and technology, stability and control are becoming essential ingredients of engineering knowledge. Many of today s products contain multiple engineering technologies, and what were once simple mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic products now contain integrated electronics and sensors. Control theory reduces these widely varied technical components into their important dynamic characteristics, expressed as transfer functions, from which the subtleties of dynamic behaviours can be analyzed and understood. Stability and Control of Aircraft Systems is an easy-to-read and understand text that describes control theory using minimal mathematics. It focuses on simple rules, tools and methods for the analysis and testing of feedback control systems using real systems engineering design and development examples. Clarifies the design and development of feedback control systems Communicates the theory in an accessible manner that does not require the reader to have a strong mathematical background Illustrated throughout with figures and tables Stability and Control of Aircraft Systems provides both the seasoned engineer and the graduate with the know-how necessary to minimize problems with fielded systems in the area of operational performance.

In the current climate of increasing complexity and functionalintegration in all areas of engineering and technology, stabilityand control are becoming essential ingredients of engineeringknowledge. Many of today's products contain multipleengineering technologies, and what were once simple mechanicalhydraulic or pneumatic products now contain integrated electronicsand sensors. Control theory reduces these widely varied technicalcomponents into their important dynamic characteristics, expressedas transfer functions, from which the subtleties of dynamicbehaviours can be analyzed and understood.Stability and Control of Aircraft Systems is aneasy-to-read and understand text that describes control theoryusing minimal mathematics. It focuses on simple rules, tools andmethods for the analysis and testing of feedback control systemsusing real systems engineering design and development examples.* Clarifies the design and development of feedback controlsystems* Communicates the theory in an accessible manner that does notrequire the reader to have a strong mathematical background* Illustrated throughout with figures and tablesStability and Control of Aircraft Systems provides boththe seasoned engineer and the graduate with the know-how necessaryto minimize problems with fielded systems in the area ofoperational performance.

Series Preface.Preface.1. Developing the Foundation.1.1 Engineering Units.1.2 Block Diagrams.1.3 Differential Equations.1.4 Spring-Mass System Example.1.5 Primer on Complex Numbers.1.6 Chapter Summary.2. Closing the Loop.2.1 The Generic Closed Loop System.2.2 The Concept of Stability.2.3 Response Testing of Control Systems.2.4 The Integration Process.2.5 Hydraulic Servo-actuator Example.2.6 Calculating Frequency Response.2.7 Aircraft Flight Control System Example.2.8 Alternative Graphical Methods for Response Analysis.2.9 Chapter Summary.3. Control System Compensation Techniques.3.1 Control System Requirements.3.2 Compensation Methods.3.3 Applications of Control Compensation.3.4 Chapter Summary.4. Introduction to Laplace Transforms.4.1 An Overview of the Application of Laplace Transforms.4.2 The Evolution of the Laplace Transform.4.2.1 Proof of the General Case.4.3 Applying Laplace Transforms to Linear Systems Analysis.4.4 Laplace Transforms - Summary of Key Points.4.5 Root Locus.4.6 Root Locus Example.4.7 Chapter Summary.5. Dealing with Nonlinearities.5.1 Definition of Nonlinearity Types.5.2 Continuous Nonlinearities.5.3 Discontinuous Nonlinearities.5.4 The Transport Delay.5.5 Simulation.5.6 Chapter Summary.6. Electronic Controls.6.1 Analog Electronic Controls.6.2 The Digital Computer as a Dynamic Control Element.6.3 The Stability Impact of Digital Controls.6.4 Digital Control Design Example.6.5 Creating Digital Control Algorithms.6.6 Chapter Summary.7. Concluding Commentary.7.1 An Overview of the Material.7.2 Graphical Tools.7.3 Compensation Techniques.7.4 Laplace Transforms and Root Locus Techniques.7.5 Nonlinearities.7.6 Digital Electronic Control.7.7 The Way Forward.Index.