Analysis of the influence of partial fuel transfer line leak on active center of gravity control

Active center of gravity control can transfer fuel among many fuselage fuel tanks to effectively optimize aircraft center of gravity and gain the potential economic performance benefits. In-flight possible failures in the fuel system may generate direct influences on aircraft center of gravity control. The aim of this article is to investigate the influence of partial fuel transfer line leak on the active center of gravity control system. First, modeling of center of gravity variation due to fuel transfer is presented and then aircraft center of gravity control law based on sliding mode is put forward. Then, detailed simulation analyses of the influence of possible fuel transfer line leak on center of gravity tracking performance are carried out, including different one or two fuel lines leak conditions. Finally, the emergency strategies for the aircraft center of gravity control system to cope with possible failures are concluded and proposed.