The Effect of Gunfire on the Longitudinal Motion of an Airplane

Citation

Lapin, Ellis (1941) The Effect of Gunfire on the Longitudinal Motion of an Airplane. Engineer's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/GQG7-6C62. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-11062008-151722

Abstract

The effect produced by the reaction forces and moments resulting from the fire of light and heavy calibre rapid fire guns on the path of motion of a modern military aircraft is discussed. This discussion is made on the basis of the "exact" equations of motion as developed by Bryan, Routh, and others, using the forms given in Dr. C. B. Millikan's notes on the dynamic stability of the airplane. The formal solution is made by the use of Heaviside operational calculus. For general use there is developed a nomogram based on a series solution to the differential equations of motion. The application of this nomogram is illustrated and it is shown to give an easy and rapid approximation to the disturbance, and a sufficiently accurate one within the time ranges required. Since the exact solution requires several hours and the use of an experienced computer on a computing machine while the nomogram permits slide rule computations and results in a solution within a few minutes, its usefulness is readily apparent. The extension of the methods used in this paper to disturbed lateral motions is briefly discussed.

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