Bifurcation analysis of polynomial models for longitudinal motion at high angle of attack

To investigate the longitudinal motion stability of aircraft maneuvers conveniently, a new stability analysis approach is presented in this paper. Based on describing longitudinal aerodynamics at high angle-of-attack (α < 50°) motion by polynomials, a union structure of two-order differential equation is suggested. By means of nonlinear theory and method, analytical and global bifurcation analyses of the polynomial differential systems are provided for the study of the nonlinear phenomena of high angle-of-attack flight. Applying the theories of bifurcations, many kinds of bifurcations, such as equilibrium, Hopf, homoclinic (heteroclinic) orbit and double limit cycle bifurcations are discussed and the existence conditions for these bifurcations as well as formulas for calculating bifurcation curves are derived. The bifurcation curves divide the parameter plane into several regions; moreover, the complete bifurcation diagrams and phase portraits in different regions are obtained. Finally, our conclusions are applied to analyzing the stability and bifurcations of a practical example of a high angle-of-attack flight as well as the effects of elevator deflection on the asymptotic stability regions of equilibrium. The model and analytical methods presented in this paper can be used to study the nonlinear flight dynamic of longitudinal stall at high angle of attack.