What is the role of roll damping coefficient in aircraft performance?

[btbam91]

Hello, I am new to Aerodynamics and am having trouble understanding what exactly the roll damping derivative is.

The roll damping derivative is a measure of the change in rolling moment coefficient with respect to nondimensional roll rate and is usually negative.


Does that mean a glider (which isn't expected to roll) has a really high roll damping derivative where an FA-18 fighter has a lower roll damping coefficient so that it can perform evasive maneuvers?

Thanks a lot!

 

[berkeman]

This paper seems to explain it a bit better:

from: http://www.flightlab.net/Flightlab.net/Home.html

Under Download Course Materials: http://www.flightlab.net/Flightlab.net/Download_Course_Notes_files/1_ AxesDerivatives.pdf

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