NACA-TN-1113

Abstract

INTRODUCTION <br>In an effort to provide satisfactory ,methods for predicting control-surface characteristics, the NACA has undertaken a program of summarizing, analyzing, and correlating the results of various experimental investigations of airplane control surfaces. This program has provided collections of aileron and tail-surface test data (references 1 and 2), analyses and correlations of the hinge-moment characteristics of control surfaces with internal balances, plain-overhang and Frise balances, beveled trailing edges, shielded and unshielded horn balances and tabs (references 3 to 8) , and analysis of the lift effectiveness of control surfaces (reference 9). As airplane sizes and speeds increase and has more reliance is placed upon tabs (particularly spring-linked tabs) to provide the final adjustment of control forces, the hinge moment of the tab about its own hinge axis becomes increasingly important. (See reference 10 and 11.) The present report therefore presents an analysis and correlation of the available data on tab hinge-moment characteristics.