• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.274-279
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• 2010

The present work is to analyze the longitudinal static stability and the drop trajectory of fighter aircraft's external fuel tank, of which horizontal fin is modified as the 20% scale down size compared with the original one. The analytical results to the pitching stability of external fuel tank using a thin airfoil's aerodynamic force data show the corresponding tendency to results of wind tunnel experiment. Results of trajectory simulation by the 6 degree of freedom equations of motion, comparing with drop trajectories of wind tunnel experiment, are shown that aircraft's attitude affects strongly on horizontal movement but not on the vertical movement. Those results give the reliability to aircraft safety when the external fuel tank with the 20% reduced horizontal fins is released from aircraft based on the flight manual.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.382-388
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• 2010

In this work the replacement material for magnesium alloy was investigated and an optimized design was suggested for the horizontal fin of a fighter's external fuel tank. For the replacement of magnesium alloy, Aluminum alloy, AL 2034-T351, was selected by considering material properties and its procurement. The strength and fracture toughness properties of AL 2034-T351 are stronger than those of magnesium alloy, but the specific weight of AL 2034-T351 is heavier than that of magnesium alloy by 65%. To meet the allowable limit of C.G. shift in the tank, the design of horizontal fin was optimized by reducing the original shape by 20% and resizing the maximum thickness to 7 mm. From the results of the static and dynamic stress analysis for improving the safety factor of the joint section and the joint hole, the radius of curvature in the aft joint section of the new fin was designed as 8.5mm.