Università Roma Tre

Aircraft components and their role in flight.
Elements of steady aerodynamics of fixed wings: lift and drag coefficients, polar curve of the aircraft; aerodynamic efficiency; finite wings.
Dynamics of vehicle as a material point.
Fixed-wing aircraft performance: power curve, range and endurance; climb performance, ceiling.
Glide performance and climb hodograph.
Load factor: steady turn, flare maneuver, gust response. V-n diagram, gust envelope and flight envelope.
Take off and landing performance.

Nonlinear algebraic equation solution: iterative methods; Newton-Raphson method.
Methods for the solution of ordinary differential equation systems in time domain: first-order form and solution through: (i) eigenvector method, (ii) reference base change, (iii) integration by exponential matrix form.
Fourier series, Fourier transform, Laplace transform, transfer function, impulsive, indicial and harmonic response.
Linear differential operators: eigenfunctions and eigenfunction method for the solution of systems of partial differential equations.
Methods of Galerkin and Rayleigh-Ritz.
Calculus of variation: functional and Euler-Lagrange equations; trasversality conditions; the brachistochrone problem; Riccati equation for the optimal control method.

Mc Cormick, B.W., Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Flight Mechanics. Wiley and Sons, 1995.
Hildebrand, F.B., Methods of Applied Mathematics. Dover Publications, NY, 1992.
Etkin, B., Dynamics of Flight-Stability and Control. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1996.

During the lectures, the teacher will suggest the student the most efficient way to use the proposed references, and will provide them with lecture notes.