The aim of the course is to develop the student's ability to understand the problems of the aircraft's aeromechanical design, according to its mission, identifying the main problems and evaluating possible solutions. The theoretical knowledge acquired, together with the design aspects that are dealt with in the course, should allow the student to identify, in a scientifically correct way, in relation to the mechanics of the flight, the best design solution. Therefore at the end of the course the student will be asked to have acquired an aeromechanical design capability of the aircraft, by integrating the knowledge acquired in this course with the information collected in the courses followed during the 1st level degree. It will be essential to demonstrate that it has acquired a good technical communication capacity so as to be able to interface with all aeronautical disciplines and sufficient autonomy in identifying the project aspects to be explored, in order to deal with any aeronautical project in the right way.

The student who accesses the teaching must have previously acquired the basic notions of Applied Mechanics, Aerodynamics and the calculation of the performance of the aircraft. Furthermore, he must have the basic tools of algebraic, differential and integral calculus. It is also necessary that he acquired the notions of the matrix algebra. A good knowledge of English is also required, which allows the reading of technical and scientific texts in English.

Recalls and integrations of Flight Mechanics [30 hours]. Equilibrium and longitudinal static stability. Turn and curved motions in the plane of symmetry and outside of it: the standard and not standard turn. The pitchup. The real atmosphere not in quiet: The gust, maneuver and gust diagram. Compensation tab, trim tab and servomotor tab. Determination of the position of the neutral point in fixed and free commands situations theoretically and experimentally. The requirement of speed stability. The moment of hinge and the requirement of the stability of the command. Stick force and friction effect; the requirements of the longitudinal control: instinctivity, trimmability, sensitivity. The curved motion in the symmetry plane; manoeuvre point for locked and free controls: elevator angle for g and stick force for grequirements. Overview of the static and dynamic balancing problems of the control surfaces. Forward limit position of the center of gravity with and without "ground effect". Introduction to the helicopter flight mechanics [6 hours]: Terminology. Flight controls. The aerodynamics of the rotor. Performance and flight regimes, necessary and available powers. Climb performance and maximum altitude. Unsteady motion of the aircraft [24 hours]. Inertial reference and body reference frames: body axes, wind axes, stability axes. The general equations of unsteady motion; the equations of forces in wind axes; the equations of forces and moments in body axes. The linearization of the equations with the hypotheses of small perturbations. Equations in an adimensionalized form. Longitudinal motion: the solution of the system, Argand diagrams. Diagrams of stability, root loci, types of trajectory. Longitudinal motion with free controls: the solution of the system. Equations of latero-directional motion: the solution of the system, Argand diagrams. Kinematic and navigation equations. Experimental and theoretical methods in the determination of aerodynamic derivatives. [12 hours] The aerodynamic derivatives in the state variables in unsteady longitudinal motion conditions; the control derivatives in the elevator angle. The aerodynamic derivatives of the unsteady latero-directional motion; control derivatives in rudder and aileron angles. The autorotation. Recalls to the concepts of aircraft response to external linear input [8 hours]. Response to the step elevator angle and to the step aileron controls. Response characteristics of the aircraft to external input: Iso Opinion Plot and Flying / handling qualities.

Classroom exercises alternate with class time. Generally speaking, there are a number of classroom hours equal to 20% of the total, ie about 15 hours of practice, distributed during the course, strictly linked to the lessons, during which the student is asked to solve problems, with the aim to develop its ability to apply theory in the context of practical problems. The text of the exercises is provided in advance to the students. The teacher explains the procedure for the exercise in the classroom and, subsequently, the exercise is uploaded to the portal. The exercises are proposed in order to follow the progressive teaching and simply require the use of pocket calculators. Logically the same exercises can be done more completely by making simple programs in Matlab. Normally for each hour of classroom exercise the student must provide the same time of personal work at home for completions.

There is currently no textbook. The teacher will provide a copy of the notes written during the lessons. There are several books that cover all the topics of the course and will be indicated in class by the teacher. Various other texts, in Italian and English, are available for further study and will also be indicated by the teacher. Tutorials: the texts of the proposed problems are provided by the classroom exercisers and are also made available on the teaching portal. The trainers also provide, in the classroom, the written traces of the solution. Main texts that may be consulted: - Bernard Etkin, Dynamic of Atmospheric Flight, Wiley & Sons - Marcello R. Napolitano, Aircraft Dynamics, Wiley & Sons - Robert Nelson, Flight Stability and Automatic Control, 2nd edition, McGraw-Hill Co.

Lecture slides; Lecture notes; Exercise with solutions ;

Exam: Computer-based written test in class using POLITO platform;

The verification of learning consists of only the final exam that ascertains the acquisition of the expected knowledge. In order to verify in a rigorous way the achievement of the learning objectives and therefore the acquisition of knowledge and the ability to understand and apply them, the exam is divided into different tests: a written test and a subsequent interview (in case of positive result of the written test). The written test must be carried out without the aid of notes or books, using only a non-programmable calculator and consists of some questions, ie questions of theory and exercises. The questions correspond each to a topic chosen from those of the theory exposed in class, the exercises to a simple problem, of the type of those performed during tutorials. For the questions it is required to expose the theory, demonstrating its knowledge. For the exercise, it is requested to provide a numerical procedure and results in order to demonstrate the ability to identify the solution. The written test is considered passed with a minimum score of 18 points out of 30. The positive mark of the written test cannot be refused, but during the written test it is possible to retreat. After the correction of all the written papers, the students are summoned to examine they work, see the solution and to make a reservation for the oral exam (mandatory) on one of the days established on the basis of the number of students and the availability of the examination commission. The positive mark of the written test does not guarantee passing the exam.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.