The information on this page is taken verbatim from the user's manual
On this page there are references to section 3.5 and Appendix B. These are are in the user manual (see reference page).
In preliminary design operations, rapid and economical estimations of aerodynamic stability and control characteristics are frequently required. The extensive application of complex automated estimation procedures is often prohibitive in terms of time and computer cost in such an environment. Similar inefficiencies accompany hand-calculation procedures, which can require expenditures of significant man-hours, particularly if configuration trade studies are involved, or if estimates are desired over a range of flight conditions. The fundamental purpose of the USAF Stability and Control Datcom is to provide a systematic summary of methods for estimating stability and control characteristics in preliminary design applications. Consistent with this philosophy, the development of the Digital Datcom computer program is an approach to provide rapid and economical estimation of aerodynamic stability and control characteristics.
Digital Datcom calculates static stability, high-lift and control device, and dynamic derivative characteristics using the methods contained in Sections 4 through 7 of the printed Datcom. The computer program also offer a trim option that computes control deflections and aerodynamic data for vehicle trim at subsonic Mach numbers.
The program has been developed an a modular basis. These modules correspond to the primary building blocks referenced in the program executive. The modular approach was used because it simplified program development, testing, and modification or expansion.
This section has been prepared to assist the potential user in his decision process concerning the applicability of the USAF Stability and Control Digital Datcom to his particular requirements. For specific questions dealing with method validity and limitations, the user is strongly encouraged to refer to the USAF Stability and Control Datcom document. Much of the flexibility inherent in the Datcom methods has been retained by allowing the user to substitute experimental or refined analytical data at intermediate computation levels. Extrapolations beyond the normal range of the Datcom methods are provided by the program; however, each time an extrapolation is employed, a message is printed which identifies the point at which the extrapolation is made and the results of the extrapolation. Supplemental output is available via the "dump" and "partial output" options which give the user access to key intermediate parameters to aid verification or adjustment of computations. The following paragraphs discuss primary program capabilities as well as selected qualifiers and limitations.
In general, Datcom treats the traditional body-wing-tail geometries including control effectiveness for a variety of high-lift /control devices. High-lift/control output is generally in terms of the incremental effects due to deflection. The user must integrate these incremental effects with the "basic" configuration output. Certain Datcom methods applicable to reentry type vehicles are also available. Therefore, the Digital Datcom addressable geometries include the "basic" traditional aircraft concepts (including canard configurations), and unique geometries which are identified as "special" configurations. Table 1 summarizes the addressable configurations accommodated by the program.
The capabilities discussed below apply to basic configurations, i.e., traditional body-wing-tail concepts. A detailed summary of output as a function of configuration and speed regime is presented in Table 2. Note that transonic output can be expanded through the use of data substitution (Sections 3.2 and 4.5 of the user's manual). Typical output for these configurations are presented in section 6 of the report.
The longitudinal and lateral-directional stability characteristics provided by the Datcom and the Digital Datcom are in the stability-axis system. Body-axis normal-force and axial-force coefficients are also included in the output for convenience of the user. For those speed regimes and configurations where Datcom methods are available, the Digital Datcom output provides the longitudinal coefficients CD, CL, Cm, CN, and CA, and the derivatives dCL/dα, dCm/dα, dCY/dβ, dCn/dβ, and dCl/dβ. Output for configurations with a wing and horizontal tail also includes downwash and the local dynamic-pressure ratio in the region of the tail. Subsonic data that include propeller power, jet power, or ground effects are also available. Power and ground effects are limited to the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics.
Users are cautioned that the Datcom does not rigorously treat aerodynamics in the transonic speed regime, and a fairing between subsonic and supersonic solutions is often the recommended procedure. Digital Datcom uses linear and nonlinear fairings through specific points; however, the user may find another fairing more acceptable. The details of these fairing techniques are discussed in Volume II, Section 4. The partial output option, discussed in Section 3.5, permits the user to obtain the information necessary for transonic fairings. The experimental data input option allows the user to revise the transonic fairings on configuration components, perform parametric analyses on test configurations, and apply better method results (or data) for configuration build-up.
Datcom body aerodynamic characteristics can be obtained at all Mach numbers only for bodies of revolution. Digital Datcom can also provide subsonic longitudinal data for cambered bodies of arbitrary cross section as shown in Figure 6. The cambered body capability is restricted to subsonic longitudinal-stability solutions.
Straight-tapered and nonstraight-tapered wings including effects of sweep, taper, and incidence can be treated by the program. The effect of linear twist can be treated at subsonic Mach numbers. Dihedral influences are included in lateral-directional stability derivatives and wing wake location used in the calculation of longitudinal data. Airfoil section characteristics are a required input, although most of these characteristics may be generated using the Airfoil Section Module (Appendix B). Users are advised to be mindful of section characteristics which are sensitive to Reynolds number, particularly in cases where very low Reynolds number estimates are of interest. A typical example would be pretest estimates for small, laminar flow wind tunnels where Reynolds numbers on the order of 100,000 are common.
Users should be aware that the Datcom and Digital Datcom employ turbulent skin friction methods in the computation of friction drag values. Estimates for cases involving significant wetted areas in laminar flow will require adjustment by the user.
Computations of wing-body longitudinal characteristics assume, in many cases, that the configuration is of the mid-wing type. Lateral-directional analyses do account for other wing locations. Users should consult the Datcom for specific details.
Wing-body-tail configurations which may be addressed are shown in Table 2. These capabilities permit the user to analyze complete configurations, including canard and conventional aircraft arrangements. Component aerodynamic contributions and configuration build-up data are available through the use of the "BUILD" option described in Section 3.5. Using this option, the user can isolate component aerodynamic contributions in a similar fashion to break down data from a wind tunnel where such information in of value in obtaining an overall understanding of a specific configuration.
Twin vertical panels can be placed either on the wing or horizontal tail. Analysis can be performed with both twin vertical tail panels and a conventional vertical tail specified though interference effects between the three panels is not computed. The influence of twin vertical tails is included only in the lateral-directional stability characteristics at subsonic speeds.
The pitch, acceleration, roll and yaw derivatives of dCL/dq, dCm/dq, dCL/d(alpha-dot), dCm/d(alpha-dot), dCl/dp, dCY/dp, dCn/dp, dCn/dr, dCl/dr are computed for each component and the build-up configurations shown in Table 2. All limitations discussed in Section 7 of the USAF Stability and Control Datcom are applicable to digital Datcom as well. The experimental data option of the program (Section 4.5) permits the user to substitute experimental data for key parameters involved in dynamic derivative solutions, such as body dCL/d(alpha) and wing-body dCL/d(alpha-dot). Any improvement in the accuracy of these key parameters will produce significant improvement in the dynamic stability estimates. Use of experimental data substitution for this purpose is strongly recommended.
High-lift devices that can be analyzed by the Datcom methods include jet flaps, split, plain, single-slotted, double-slotted, fowler, and leading edge flaps and slats. Control devices, such as trailing-edge flap-type controls and spoilers, can also be treated. In general terms, the program provides the incremental effects of high lift or control device deflections at zero angle of attack.
The majority of the high-lift-device methods deal with subsonic lift, drag, and pitching-moment effects with flap deflection. General capabilities for jet flaps, symmetrically deflected high-lift devices, or trailing-edge control devices include lift, moment, and maximum-lift increments along with drag-polar increments and hinge-moment derivatives. For translating devices the lift-curve slope is also computed. Asymmetrical deflection of wing control devices can be analyzed for rolling and yawing effectiveness. Rolling effectiveness may be obtained for all-movable differentially-deflected horizontal stabilizers. The speed regimes where these capabilities exist are shown in Table 3.
Control modes employing all-moving wing or tail surfaces can also be addressed with the program. This is accomplished by executing multiple cases with a variety of panel incidence angles.
Trim data can be calculated at subsonic speeds. Digital Datcom manipulates computed stability and control characteristics to provide trim output (static Cm= 0.0). The trim option is available in two modes. One mode treats configurations with a trim control device on the wing or horizontal tail. Output is presented as a function of angle of attack and consists of control deflection angles required to trim and the associated longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics shown in Table 3. The second mode treats conventional wing-body-tail configurations where the horizontal-tail is all-movable or "flying." In this case, output as a function of angle of attack consists of horizontal-stabilizer deflection (or incidence) angle required to trim; untrimmed stabilizer CL, CD, Cm, and hinge-moment coefficients; trimmed stabilizer CL, CD, and hinge moment coefficients; and total wing-body-tail CL and CD. Body-canard-tail configurations may be trimmed by calculating the stability characteristics at a variety of canard incidence angles and manually calculating the trim data. Treatment of a canard configuration is addressed in Table 1.
The capabilities discussed below apply to the three special configurations illustrated in Figure 2.
Datcom provides methods which apply to lifting reentry vehicles at subsonic speeds. Digital Datcom output provides longitudinal coefficients CD, CL, Cm, CN, and CA and the derivatives dCL/dα, dCm/dα, dCY/dβ, dCn/dβ, dCl/dβ.
The USAF Stability and Control Datcom contains some special control methods for high-speed vehicles. These include hypersonic flap methods which are incorporated into Digital Datcom. The flap methods are restricted to Mach numbers greater than 5, angles of attack between zero and 20 degrees and deflections into the wind. A two-dimensional flow field is determined and oblique shock relations are used to describe the flow field.
Data output from the hypersonic control-flap methods are incremental normal- and axial-force coefficients, associated hinge moments, and center-of-pressure location. These data are found from the local pressure distributions on the flap and in regions forward of the flap. The analysis includes the effects of flow separation due to windward flap deflection by providing estimates for separation induced-pressures forward of the flap and reattachment on the flap. Users may specify laminar or turbulent boundary layers.
Datcom provides a procedure for preliminary sizing of a two-dimensional transverse-jet control system in hypersonic flow, assuming that the nozzle is located at the aft end of the surface. The method evaluates the interaction of the transverse jet with the local flow field. A favorable interaction will produce amplification forces that increase control effectiveness.
The Datcom method is restricted to control jets located on windward surfaces in a Mach number range of 2 to 20. In addition, the method is invalid for altitudes where mean free paths approach the jet-width dimension.
The transverse control jet method requires a user-specified time history of local flow parameters and control force required to trim or maneuver. With these data, the minimum jet plenum pressure is then employed to calculate the nozzle throat diameter and the jet plenum pressure and propellant weight requirements to trim or maneuver the vehicle.
There are several operational considerations the user needs to understand in order to take maximum advantage of Digital Datcom.
Digital Datcom requires Mach number and Reynolds number to define the flight conditions. This requirement can be satisfied by defining combinations of Mach number, velocity, Reynolds number, altitude, and pressure and temperature. The input options for speed reference and atmospheric conditions that satisfy the requirement are given in Figure 3. The speed reference is input as either Mach number or velocity, and the atmospheric conditions as either altitude or freestream pressure and temperature. The specific reference and atmospheric conditions are then used to calculate Reynolds number.
The program may loop on speed reference and atmospheric conditions three different ways, as given by the variable LOOP in Figure 3. In this discussion, and in Figure 3, the speed reference is referred to as Mach number, and atmospheric conditions as altitude. The three options for program looping on Mach number and altitude are listed and discussed below.
Aerodynamic stability methods are defined in Datcom as a function of vehicle configuration and Mach regime. Digital Datcom logic determines the configuration being analyzed by identifying the particular input namelists that are present within a case (see Section 3). The Mach regime is normally determined according to the following criteria:
| Mach Number (M) | Mach Regime | |
|---|---|---|
| M <= 0.6 | Subsonic | |
| 0.6 < M < 1.4 | Transonic | |
| M >= 1.4 | Supersonic | |
| M >= 1.4 and the hypersonic flag is set |
Hypersonic |
These limits were selected to conform with most Datcom methods. However, some methods are valid for a larger Mach number range. Some subsonic methods are valid up to a Mach number of 0.7 or 0.8. The user has the option to increase the subsonic Mach number limit using the variable STMACH described In Section 3.2. The program will permit this variable to be in the range: 0.6<= STMACH <= 0.99. In the same fashion, the supersonic Mach limit can be reduced using the variable TSMACH. The program will permit this value be in the range: 1.01 <= TSMACH <= 1.40. The program will default to the limits of each variable if the range is exceeded. The Mach regimes are then defined as follows:
| Mach Number (M) | Mach Regime | |
|---|---|---|
| M <= STMACH | Subsonic | |
| STMACH < M < TSMACH | Transonic | |
| M >= TSMACH | Supersonic | |
| M >= TSMACH and the hypersonic flag is set |
Hypersonic |
There to an input diagnostic analysis module in Digital Datcom which scans all of the input data cards prior to program execution. A listing of all input data is given and any errors are flagged. It checks all namelist cards for correct namelist name and variable name spelling, checks the numerical inputs for syntax errors, and checks for legal control cards. The namelist and control cards are described in Section 3.
This module does not "fix up" input errors. It will, however, insert a namelist termination if it is not found. Digital Datcom will attempt to execute all cases as input by the user even if errors are detected.
The airfoil section module can be used to calculate the required geometric and aerodynamic input parameters for virtually any user defined airfoil section. This module substantially simplifies the user's input preparation.
An airfoil section is defined by one of the following methods:
The airfoil section module uses Weber's method (References 2 to 4) to calculate the inviscid aerodynamic characteristics. A viscous correction is applied to the section lift curve slope, clalpha. In addition a 5 per cent correlation factor (suggested in Datcom, page 4.1.1.2-2) is applied to bring the results in line with experimental data. The airfoil section module methods are discussed in Appendix B in the printed manual.
The airfoil section is assumed to be parallel to the free stream. Skewed airfoils can be handled by supplying the section coordinates parallel to the free stream. The module will calculate the characteristics of any input airfoil, so the user must determine whether the results are applicable to his particular situation. Five general characteristics of the module should be noted.
Several operational limitations exist in Digital Datcom. These limitations are listed below without extensive discussion or justification. Some pertinent operational techniques are also listed.
Should Digital Datcom not provide output for those configurations for which output is expected, as shown in Table 2, limitations on the use of a Datcom method has probably been exceeded. In all cases users should consult the Datcom for method limitations.