rtfm
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I have a quick question for all you experienced designers:
Is there any value in splitting your control surfaces into multiple segments and controlling each independently? Take a full span aileron for example. One can (as is the normal practice) deflect the entire aileron at the same time, or one could segment the aileron into (say) 10 equal sized surfaces. One could then deflect the outer segments more than the inner ones, or vice versa. Perhaps vary the amount of deflection to conform to the lift distribution.
Is there any value in doing this?
Yes, I know that it introduces vastly more complexity, but ignore that for the time being. It is certainly possible to do - the question is, is there any aerodynamic value in doing so?
And a related questions: If it is of any aerodynamic value, how would one distribute the deflection? More deflection at the tips? Less?
Regards,
Duncan
I have a quick question for all you experienced designers:
Is there any value in splitting your control surfaces into multiple segments and controlling each independently? Take a full span aileron for example. One can (as is the normal practice) deflect the entire aileron at the same time, or one could segment the aileron into (say) 10 equal sized surfaces. One could then deflect the outer segments more than the inner ones, or vice versa. Perhaps vary the amount of deflection to conform to the lift distribution.
Is there any value in doing this?
Yes, I know that it introduces vastly more complexity, but ignore that for the time being. It is certainly possible to do - the question is, is there any aerodynamic value in doing so?
And a related questions: If it is of any aerodynamic value, how would one distribute the deflection? More deflection at the tips? Less?
Regards,
Duncan
