Analysis Plug-Ins

Overview

The ability to run multiple types of analyses across different airframes over a range of user defined flight conditions is at the heart of the analyses capabilities of the j2 Universal Tool-Kit. Start with validation checks at known conditions with j2 Freedom before expanding the test cases our to look at the complete flight envelope and multiple configuration trims. These can be used to investigate VTOL technologies and transition between hover and forward flight. Use j2 Freedom and the response modelling capabilities to fly the aircraft through the complete flight test and certification program. When flight data is available, the j2 Flight plug-in enables a complete flight matching and envelope expansion capability.

When evaluating the Handling Qualities, j2 Classical can be used to establish the complete set of modes of motion characteristics, identifying the frequency and damping of oscillatory modes across the complete flight envelope and all phases of flight. The introduction and development of Automatic Flight Control Systems can be developed using the j2 Matlab Tool-Box. Find key performance characteristics with j2 Performance

Analysis

j2 Freedom

This module is the flight modelling engine of the j2 Universal Tool-Kit. The software allows users to create trim and response scenarios and to use these with any aircraft model to perform static and dynamic analyses. j2 Freedom also provides a “virtual wind tunnel” capability where the model can be run through a series of wind tunnel type tests to calculate the total coefficients from the individual contributions.

Full flight test or certification programs can be run using j2 Freedom from the very beginning of the project, and across multiple options/configurations without the need to rebuild the model or analysis each time. This is done in conjunction with the j2Flight plug in.

Analysis

j2 Matlab Toolbox

This module allows direct integration with Matlab/Simulink. A simple Simulink block provides access to any aircraft in the j2 Universal Database.  No need to rebuild the complete aircraft in Simulink.  Always work with the latest version.  Build the FCS around the open-loop aircraft model developed in j2 Builder. With the FCS defined, a complete system diagram can be loaded, using the easy to use GUI, into j2 Universal for analysis. All test cases and conditions already defined can be applied to the closed-loop solution using models integrated using the Matlab Toolbox.

Analysis

j2 Classical

Using j2 Classical, the user can investigate classical linear analysis.  Linearize the aircraft about any initial condition or flight case and identify the state space solution.  Using Eigenstructure Analysis, the aircraft modes of motion can be identified, along with all characteristics such as frequency, damping time to half amplitude etc.  Results can easily be compared to standards and limitations to evaluate compliance. Using j2 Visualise also means that all graphs and charts can be templated and re-used as required.

Analysis

j2 Flight

The j2 Flight Plug-In is used to review the flight test data and to identify the model corrections required.  The plug-in provides flight path reconstruction to identify all aircraft states and to remove noise and bias from the sensors, re-prediction for qualification and flight matching.  Finally taking the reprediction results, the user is able to specify the shape of equations to identify corrections required on the model and then perform automatic regression analysis to calculate the corrections.  These corrections can automatically be added to an aircraft model and the analysis re-run.

Uniquely, the j2 Flight plug-in allows the user to place the model at the same point in space and time as the flying aircraft, thus removing a significant proportion of additional data processing and data correction steps. 

Analysis

j2 Performance

j2 Performance adds an additional search capability for finding boundaries, max/min values, and cross-coupling of parameters to optimize the aircraft’s characteristics.  Combine these analyses with the ultimate flexible trimming capability to investigate point performance characteristics such as stall speeds, rates of turn, rates of climb etc is a highly effective and insightful tool to have when planning flight test activities.

Analysis

j2 Active

j2 Active integrates the power of the j2 Universal Tool-Kit into your current design capabilities.  This provides another API for connecting external analyses directly into the system to ensure that everyone is working with a consistent aircraft model.  Results from other analyses can be extracted and used for further work.  This removes the continual duplication where each discipline creates their own model and performs their own trimming/initialisation routines.