J2 Universal

Starting on the Ground

How to use feedback and conditional
behaviour for Pilot and Autopilot Functions

© 2006 J2 Aircraft Dynamics Ltd. All rights reserved. J2 Universal Framework, J2 Builder, J2 Freedom, J2 Visualize, J2
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 Table of Contents
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 1
Modelling Aircraft Ground Roll.......................................................................................................... 2
Forces and Moments ............................................................................................................. 2
Calculating Undercarriage Contributions................................................................................. 3
Adding the Undercarriage in J2 Builder ........................................................................................... 4
Trimming Ground Roll ...................................................................................................................... 5
Running Responses......................................................................................................................... 6

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Introduction
By adding weight on wheels, ground effect, etc. enables designers to study all manner of flight conditions.
Adding engine out scenarios means that the normal and aborted take offs can be studied, as well as all
possibilities in between.

This can go even further into investigating all the FAA and CAA regulations and scenarios at every stage of
the design. Adding turbulence to these scenarios can introduce investigations into wake effects.

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Modelling Aircraft Ground Roll
Forces and Moments
When considering aircraft ground roll, we must first look at the forces and moments that apply to the
aircraft. At this point we are going to look at only the vertical forces and pitching moment.

Total Lift (LiftT)

Total Moment (MT )

C of G

Xn -Xm

Nose Gear Force (Fn)

Weight (Mass.g) Main Gear Force (Fm)

Resolving the forces and moments gives

LiftT + Fm + Fn = Mass.g
MT + Fn.Xn –Fm.Xm = 0
For simpler cases or when the location of the undercarriage is unknown, this can be reduced down to a
force and moment applied by the undercarriage at the centre of gravity. Thus:

Total Lift (LiftT)

Total Moment (M T)
Undercarriage Moment (M U)
C of G

Undercarriage Force
(FU)

Weight (Mass.g)

Resolving the forces and moments gives

LiftT + FU = Mass.g
MT + MU = 0

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Calculating Undercarriage Contributions
As we now know the forces and moments that are to be applied to the aircraft, we can resolve these for the
Undercarriage to obtain the appropriate values.
In the case of a simple model where forces in the vertical plane are from a few contributing sources, and
only the horizontal stabilizer has a defined moment arm we can find the resultant Undercarriage values
from.
WoW = ([M]*[g]- [Elevator.Lifta] - [Flaps.Lifta] - [Horizontal Stabilizer.Lifta] - [Wing Body.Lifta] -
[Propulsion Installation.Liftt])

Moment = -( [Wing Body.Ma] + [Flaps.Ma] + [Propulsion Installation.Mt] - ([Elevator.Lifta] +

[Horizontal Stabilizer.Lifta] )* [Horizontal Stabilizer.Tail Arm] )

Note: If there is a thrust contribution that is not through the aircraft C of G, then this moment term must
also be included.
In addition to these values, it must be included that the undercarriage only provides the forces and
moments when the aircraft is on the ground (H<1)
From here, these forces need converting into coefficients to be added into the overall set of lift and pitching
moment values for the complete airframe.
Once again we must consider the situation when these effects apply. Thus we only consider the lift from
the undercarriage when the weight term is greater than the lift contributions (WoW>0). For the moment, we
do not want to oppose rotation in the case of take off, thus we only include a moment if it is providing a
nose up contribution (Moment>0) The Coefficient terms are
CLift = [Landing Gear.WoW] / ([dynamic q]* [Wing Body.S])
CM = [Landing Gear.Moment] / ([dynamic q]* [Wing Body.S] * [Wing Body.cbar])
The final consideration must be given to the location this force is applied. This is important, as we do not
wish to have an additional moment term due to the undercarriage lift, and so we must ensure the neutral
point (i.e. where the undercarriage terms are applied) equal to the aircraft C of G. thus
NP.x = [Wing Body.C of G.x]
Note: This is based upon the [Landing Gear] being a child of the [Wing Body], with no change to the
reference location (i.e. identical to wing body reference location)

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Adding the Undercarriage in J2 Builder
In order to create a dynamic undercarriage in J2 Builder various steps must be taken.
1. Create Dynamic Aerodynamic Structural item “Landing Gear” as a child to the Wing Body.
Do not include a deflection type, as undercarriage will have up (0) and down (1) options only
2. Create Pilot Control to drive landing gear and link control to gear.
3. For all lifting objects (Elevators, Horizontal Stabilizer, Wing Body, Flaps, Propulsion
installation etc. ) ensure that the Lifta and Ma Internally calculated parameters are exposed. For the
engines include the Liftt and Mt terms also.
4. Create user defined expressions for the Landing of WoW and Moment
5. For WoW enter the following expression
IF( [H]<1, ([M]*[g]- [Elevator.Lifta] - [Flaps.Lifta] - [Horizontal Stabilizer.Lifta] - [Wing
Body.Lifta] - [Propulsion Installation.Liftt]) ,0)
6. For Moment enter the following expression
IF( [H]<1, -( [Wing Body.Ma] + [Flaps.Ma] + [Propulsion Installation.Mt] - ([Elevator.Lifta] +
[Horizontal Stabilizer.Lifta] )* [Horizontal Stabilizer.Tail Arm]) ,0)
7. Create coefficients CLift and CM set the coefficient types to Expression.
8. For CLift enter the following expression
IF( [Landing Gear.WoW] >0 AND [Landing Gear.Deflection] = 1, [Landing Gear.WoW] /
([dynamic q]* [Wing Body.S]) ,0)
9. For CM enter the following expression
IF( [Landing Gear.Moment] >0 AND [Landing Gear.Deflection] = 1 AND Landing Gear.WoW]
>0, [Landing Gear.Moment] / ([dynamic q]* [Wing Body.S] * [Wing Body.cbar]),0)

Note The [Landing Gear.Deflection] = 1 term will ensure that only when the gear is fully deployed
will these coefficients be non-zero. An alternative to this can be to use Deriviative - Expression
types with the denominator is Landing Gear.Deflection. This will calculate a value as the gear is
being deployed, but the WoW and Moment values are only non zero when the altitude is less than
1 metre.
10. Add a Reference Coordinate.Np.x term as an expression. Enter the expression
[Wing Body.C of G.x]
11. Add any additional aerodynamic drag and moment terms as a result of the undercarriage
being deployed.
12. Add any friction terms required when undercarriage is in ground roll. These can be
dependant upon the WoW value, and if a detailed look at the rotation is required, and be reduced when
the nose wheel leaves the ground (i.e. [Landing Gear.Moment] > 0)

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Trimming Ground Roll
When setting up trims for ground roll, we must again consider the physics of the situation in order to select
the correct rules.
The first thing that must be done is to create a rule to adjust the landing gear. This can be a simple fixed
rule where the landing gear switch position is set directly. By using 0 for up and 1 for down, this rule is only
need in situations where the gear switch is non zero.
In a Take-Off scenario, the aircraft is initially starting with all wheels on the ground, with the pilot fixing a
throttle position (Take-Off thrust). The aircraft angle of attack and pitch angle will be fixed at whatever value
the aircraft body axis is due to the gear lengths. Thus to set the aircraft up in a trim for take off, the
following rules and target values should be used.
1. Altitude Fixed
H=0
2. Alpha Fixed
alpha = (Angle of Attack due to undercarriage lengths [0])
3. Constant Pitch Constant Thrust
Pilot Throttle.Position = (Take of Setting)
Theta = (Pitch Angle due to undercarriage lengths [0, equivalent to alpha for zero flight path])
4. Pitch Stick Fixed
Pitch Stick.Position = (Take of Setting, will be pulled back during take off)
5. Velocity Fixed
TAS = (Desired airspeed, this can be a range to look at different phases of ground roll. This
value can also be zero as the software will convert zero to a very small number for
mathematical purposes.)
In addition to these, the undercarriage should be fixed down, and any additional user defined rules included
to specify mass/inertia, cg position, flap settings etc.
By setting up the rules as above, and the undercarriage as defined previously the resultant forces on the
aircraft will result in zero vertical acceleration, zero pitch angle acceleration, and with a forward acceleration
defined as a result of engine thrust and drag.

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Running Responses
With the aircraft trimmed using the above rules, responses can now be run to investigate the ground roll/
take off. The throttle can remain at take off setting, and the pitch stick position can be set as a conditional
expression, pulling back on the stick when the aircraft reaches a desired airspeed. A variety of airspeeds
can be tried, flap positions, throttle settings etc. can be attempted to obtain a detailed picture of the possible
take of scenarios.

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