Development of a pilot model suitable for the simulation of large aircraft

Abstract

Effects of aeroservoelasticity on the manual control of large civil aircraft are investigated through a pilot modelling approach based on the modified optimal control model. A synopsis of modelling techniques is presented, followed by the description of the adopted technique. A simulation environment suitable for investigating pilot-vehicle dynamics in the longitudinal axis has been developed. The derivation of the pilot model was based on limiting the bandwidth. This approach showed that the pilot-vehicle system satisfied the crossover law between 3rad/s to 10rad/s for normal acceleration response. It was found that the pilot model and the low frequency tailplane bending mode introduced a resonant peak in the pilotvehicle frequency response that may be a cause for concern in high gain scenarios. Gust response simulations highlighted the contribution of fuselage bending mode on pilot perceived normal acceleration.