RCAIDE.Library.Components.Wings.Control_Surfaces.Control_Surface

Control_Surface#

class Control_Surface(*args, **kwarg)[source]#

Base class for aircraft control surfaces providing core functionality for geometric definition and operation.

tag#

Unique identifier for the control surface, defaults to ‘control_surface’

span#

Spanwise length of the control surface in meters, defaults to 0.0

span_fraction_start#

Spanwise location where control surface begins as fraction of wing span, defaults to 0.0

span_fraction_end#

Spanwise location where control surface ends as fraction of wing span, defaults to 0.0

hinge_fraction#

Chordwise location of hinge line as fraction of control surface chord, defaults to 0.0

chord_fraction#

Fraction of wing chord occupied by control surface, defaults to 0.0

sign_duplicate#

Sign convention for duplicate control surface deflection (1.0 or -1.0), defaults to 1.0

deflection#

Control surface deflection angle, defaults to 0.0

configuration_type#

Type of control surface construction (e.g., ‘single_slotted’), defaults to ‘single_slotted’

gain#

Deflection multiplier used for AVL analysis, defaults to 1.0

Notes

The control surface class provides the foundation for all movable aerodynamic surfaces. Key features include:

Definitions

‘Span Fraction’: Location along wing span measured as fraction from root (0.0) to tip (1.0)
‘Chord Fraction’: Portion of local wing chord occupied by control surface
‘Hinge Fraction’: Location of hinge line measured as fraction of control surface chord
‘Sign Duplicate’: Determines deflection relationship between paired surfaces: * 1.0 for synchronized deflection (e.g., flaps) * -1.0 for opposite deflection (e.g., ailerons)