Proposal for an Enhanced Monitoring Technique for Active Control of Aircraft Flap Asymmetry †
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Flap Systems and Generic Configuration
- Power Drive Unit (PDU). The PDU is the power unit that provides power to the surface often from the hydraulic circuit.
- Power Control Unit (PCU), which controls the actuation process.
- Drive shafts and torsion bars. They are utilized to transmit motion from the motor output shaft to the user interface, specifically the flap surfaces, via the actuators [10].
- Actuators. They are positioned between the torsion bars and the flight surfaces. Typically, they consist of ball screws or a screw-and-nut mechanism.
- Servo valves, solenoid and shut-off valves.
- Mechanical links and components.
3. Monitoring Strategies
- Passive monitoring techniques are designed to detect asymmetry in flap positions without specifying the wing side of the failure. Consequently, the corrective maneuver for addressing asymmetry involves applying brakes to both control surfaces once the anomaly is identified.
- Active techniques are more advanced and complex as they not only detect the anomaly but also identify the faulty side and try to establish a stable aircraft condition. In fact, two actions are performed: first of all, as soon as the failure arises, the faulty surface is braked. Secondly, the still-operational flap is moved to reach the position of the non operational side. In this way, the asymmetry is reduced even more and the effect on the aircraft’s stability and maneuverability is minimized.
4. Proposed Strategy
5. Employed Physics-Based Model
6. Results
- Flap extension or retraction;
- Extraction/retraction magnitude;
- Failure side: Failure on the right or left half of the wing;
- AT (to simulate different flight conditions);
- Worn/not-worn actuator (simulated by increasing friction).
7. Discussion
8. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Scenario | Direction | Start [rad] | End [rad] | AT [Nm] | Worn-Out |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | E | 0 | 0.07 | 0 | NO |
B | R | 0.07 | 0 | 0 | NO |
C | E | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1000 | NO |
D | R | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1000 | NO |
E | E | 0 | 0.07 | 0 | YES |
F | R | 0.07 | 0 | 0 | YES |
G | E | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1000 | YES |
H | R | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1000 | YES |
Parameter | Measurement Unit |
---|---|
DThM | deg/s |
ThSL, ThSR, ThA, ThM, RoA | deg |
IAs, IAsL, IAsR | 0/1 (Boolean) |
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Baldo, L.; Dalla Vedova, M.D.L.; Cejudo Ruiz, J.M. Proposal for an Enhanced Monitoring Technique for Active Control of Aircraft Flap Asymmetry. Eng. Proc. 2025, 90, 66. https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025090066
Baldo L, Dalla Vedova MDL, Cejudo Ruiz JM. Proposal for an Enhanced Monitoring Technique for Active Control of Aircraft Flap Asymmetry. Engineering Proceedings. 2025; 90(1):66. https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025090066
Chicago/Turabian StyleBaldo, Leonardo, Matteo Davide Lorenzo Dalla Vedova, and Jose Maria Cejudo Ruiz. 2025. "Proposal for an Enhanced Monitoring Technique for Active Control of Aircraft Flap Asymmetry" Engineering Proceedings 90, no. 1: 66. https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025090066
APA StyleBaldo, L., Dalla Vedova, M. D. L., & Cejudo Ruiz, J. M. (2025). Proposal for an Enhanced Monitoring Technique for Active Control of Aircraft Flap Asymmetry. Engineering Proceedings, 90(1), 66. https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025090066