JSBSim Flight Dynamics Model 1.3.3 (16 Oct 2026)
An Open Source Flight Dynamics and Control Software Library in C++
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FGExternalReactions Class Reference

Detailed Description

Manages the external and/or arbitrary forces and moments.

The external reactions capability in JSBSim really should be named "arbitrary forces and moments", because this feature can be used to model a wide variety of forces and moments that act on a vehicle. Some examples include: parachutes, catapult, arresting hook, and tow line.

This class acts similarly to the other "manager classes" (FGPropulsion, FGFCS, FGGroundReactions, FGAerodynamics) because it manages collections of constituent elements. The individual forces and moments are implemented with the FGExternalForce class.

The format of the optional external reactions section in the config file is as follows:

<external_reactions>
<!-- Interface properties, a.k.a. property declarations -->
<property> ... </property>
<force name="name" frame="BODY | LOCAL | WIND">
...
</force>
<moment name="name" frame="BODY | LOCAL | WIND">
...
</moment>
<!-- Additional force and moment definitions may follow -->
<force name="name" frame="BODY | LOCAL | WIND">
...
</force>
<moment name="name" frame="BODY | LOCAL | WIND">
...
</moment>
</external_reactions>

See the FGExternalForce class for more information on the format of the force and moment specifications.

When force or moment elements are encountered in the configuration file, a new instance of the FGExternalForce class is created and a pointer to the class is pushed onto the Forces vector.

This class is one of a few of the manager classes that allows properties to be "declared". In code, these are represented by the interface_properties vector. Properties that have not yet been created in an already parsed section of the configuration file and that are used in the definition of an external force or moment should be declared in the external_reactions section because they will not be created automatically, and so would cause an error, since the property cannot be found to exist.

See the FGExternalForce documentation for details on how forces and moments are actually calculated.

Definition at line 122 of file FGExternalReactions.h.

#include <FGExternalReactions.h>

+ Inheritance diagram for FGExternalReactions:
+ Collaboration diagram for FGExternalReactions:

Public Member Functions

 FGExternalReactions (const FGExternalReactions &)=delete
 The model owns its forces, so it cannot be copied.
 
 FGExternalReactions (FGFDMExec *fdmex)
 Constructor.
 
 ~FGExternalReactions (void) override
 Destructor.
 
void Add (std::unique_ptr< FGExternalForce > force)
 Adds a force or moment created in code to the external reactions.
 
double GetForces (int idx) const
 
const FGColumnVector3 & GetForces (void) const
 Retrieves the total forces defined in the external reactions.
 
double GetMoments (int idx) const
 
const FGColumnVector3 & GetMoments (void) const
 Retrieves the total moment resulting from the forces defined in the external reactions.
 
bool InitModel (void) override
 
bool Load (Element *el) override
 Loads the external forces from the XML configuration file.
 
FGExternalReactions & operator= (const FGExternalReactions &)=delete
 
bool Run (bool Holding) override
 Sum all the constituent forces for this cycle.
 
- Public Member Functions inherited from FGModel
 FGModel (FGFDMExec *, const std::string &name)
 Constructor.
 
 ~FGModel () override
 Destructor.
 
virtual SGPath FindFullPathName (const SGPath &path) const
 
FGFDMExec * GetExec (void) const
 
const std::string & GetName (void) const
 
unsigned int GetRate (void) const
 Get the output rate for the model in frames.
 
bool InitModel (void) override
 
void SetPropertyManager (std::shared_ptr< FGPropertyManager > fgpm)
 
void SetRate (unsigned int tt)
 Set the ouput rate for the model in frames.
 
- Public Member Functions inherited from FGModelFunctions
std::string GetFunctionStrings (const std::string &delimeter) const
 Gets the strings for the current set of functions.
 
std::string GetFunctionValues (const std::string &delimeter) const
 Gets the function values.
 
std::shared_ptr< FGFunction > GetPreFunction (const std::string &name)
 Get one of the "pre" function.
 
bool Load (Element *el, FGFDMExec *fdmex, std::string prefix="")
 
void PostLoad (Element *el, FGFDMExec *fdmex, std::string prefix="")
 
void PreLoad (Element *el, FGFDMExec *fdmex, std::string prefix="")
 
void RunPostFunctions (void)
 
void RunPreFunctions (void)
 
- Public Member Functions inherited from FGJSBBase
 FGJSBBase ()
 Constructor for FGJSBBase.
 
virtual ~FGJSBBase ()
 Destructor for FGJSBBase.
 

Additional Inherited Members

- Public Types inherited from FGJSBBase
enum  { eL = 1 , eM , eN }
 Moments L, M, N. More...
 
enum  { eP = 1 , eQ , eR }
 Rates P, Q, R. More...
 
enum  { eU = 1 , eV , eW }
 Velocities U, V, W. More...
 
enum  { eX = 1 , eY , eZ }
 Positions X, Y, Z. More...
 
enum  { ePhi = 1 , eTht , ePsi }
 Euler angles Phi, Theta, Psi. More...
 
enum  { eDrag = 1 , eSide , eLift }
 Stability axis forces, Drag, Side force, Lift. More...
 
enum  { eRoll = 1 , ePitch , eYaw }
 Local frame orientation Roll, Pitch, Yaw. More...
 
enum  { eNorth = 1 , eEast , eDown }
 Local frame position North, East, Down. More...
 
enum  { eLat = 1 , eLong , eRad }
 Locations Radius, Latitude, Longitude. More...
 
enum  {
  inNone = 0 , inDegrees , inRadians , inMeters ,
  inFeet
}
 Conversion specifiers. More...
 
- Static Public Member Functions inherited from FGJSBBase
static constexpr double CelsiusToFahrenheit (double celsius)
 Converts from degrees Celsius to degrees Fahrenheit.
 
static constexpr double CelsiusToKelvin (double celsius)
 Converts from degrees Celsius to degrees Kelvin.
 
static constexpr double CelsiusToRankine (double celsius)
 Converts from degrees Celsius to degrees Rankine.
 
static constexpr double Constrain (double min, double value, double max)
 Constrain a value between a minimum and a maximum value.
 
static bool EqualToRoundoff (double a, double b)
 Finite precision comparison.
 
static bool EqualToRoundoff (double a, float b)
 Finite precision comparison.
 
static bool EqualToRoundoff (float a, double b)
 Finite precision comparison.
 
static bool EqualToRoundoff (float a, float b)
 Finite precision comparison.
 
static constexpr double FahrenheitToCelsius (double fahrenheit)
 Converts from degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius.
 
static constexpr double FeetToMeters (double measure)
 Converts from feet to meters.
 
static const std::string & GetVersion (void)
 Returns the version number of JSBSim.
 
static constexpr double KelvinToCelsius (double kelvin)
 Converts from degrees Kelvin to degrees Celsius.
 
static constexpr double KelvinToFahrenheit (double kelvin)
 Converts from degrees Kelvin to degrees Fahrenheit.
 
static constexpr double KelvinToRankine (double kelvin)
 Converts from degrees Kelvin to degrees Rankine.
 
static constexpr double RankineToCelsius (double rankine)
 Converts from degrees Rankine to degrees Celsius.
 
static constexpr double RankineToKelvin (double rankine)
 Converts from degrees Rankine to degrees Kelvin.
 
static constexpr double sign (double num)
 
- Static Public Attributes inherited from FGJSBBase
static short debug_lvl = 1
 
- Protected Member Functions inherited from FGModel
bool Upload (Element *el, bool preLoad)
 Uploads this model in memory.
 
- Static Protected Member Functions inherited from FGJSBBase
static std::string CreateIndexedPropertyName (const std::string &Property, int index)
 
- Protected Attributes inherited from FGModel
bool enabled = true
 
unsigned int exe_ctr
 
FGFDMExec * FDMExec
 
std::string Name
 
std::shared_ptr< FGPropertyManager > PropertyManager
 
unsigned int rate
 
- Protected Attributes inherited from FGModelFunctions
FGPropertyReader LocalProperties
 
std::vector< std::shared_ptr< FGFunction > > PostFunctions
 
std::vector< std::shared_ptr< FGFunction > > PreFunctions
 
- Static Protected Attributes inherited from FGJSBBase
static constexpr double degtorad = M_PI / 180.
 
static constexpr double fpstokts = 1.0 / ktstofps
 
static constexpr double fttom = 0.3048
 
static constexpr double hptoftlbssec = 550.0
 
static constexpr double in3tom3 = inchtoft*inchtoft*inchtoft/m3toft3
 
static constexpr double inchtoft = 1.0/12.0
 
static constexpr double inhgtopa = 3386.38
 
static const std::string JSBSim_version = JSBSIM_VERSION " " __DATE__ " " __TIME__
 
static constexpr double kgtolb = 2.20462
 
static constexpr double kgtoslug = 0.06852168
 
static constexpr double ktstofps = 1852./(3600*fttom)
 
static constexpr double lbtoslug = 1.0/slugtolb
 
static constexpr double m3toft3 = 1.0/(fttom*fttom*fttom)
 
static const std::string needed_cfg_version = "2.0"
 
static constexpr double psftoinhg = 0.014138
 
static constexpr double psftopa = 47.88
 
static constexpr double radtodeg = 180. / M_PI
 
static constexpr double slugtolb = 32.174049
 Note that definition of lbtoslug by the inverse of slugtolb and not to a different constant you can also get from some tables will make lbtoslug*slugtolb == 1 up to the magnitude of roundoff.
 

Constructor & Destructor Documentation

◆ FGExternalReactions()

Constructor.

Parameters
fdmexpointer to the main executive class.

Definition at line 53 of file FGExternalReactions.cpp.

53 : FGModel(fdmex, "FGExternalReactions")
54{
55 bind();
56 Debug(0);
57}
FGModel(FGFDMExec *, const std::string &name)
Constructor.
Definition FGModel.cpp:59

◆ ~FGExternalReactions()

~FGExternalReactions ( void  )
override

Destructor.

The forces are held by unique_ptr and released automatically.

Definition at line 100 of file FGExternalReactions.cpp.

101{
102 Debug(1);
103}

Member Function Documentation

◆ Add()

void Add ( std::unique_ptr< FGExternalForce >  force)

Adds a force or moment created in code to the external reactions.

A host hands over its own FGExternalForce, or a class derived from it, and ownership passes to FGExternalReactions through the unique_ptr. Whether the object acts as a force or a moment is decided by how it was set up, so both are added the same way. The forces and moments properties are tied when the model is constructed, so a force added to an aircraft that declares no external_reactions element is reported like any other.

Parameters
forcethe force or moment to add. A null pointer is ignored.

Definition at line 92 of file FGExternalReactions.cpp.

93{
94 if (!force) return;
95 Forces.push_back(std::move(force));
96}
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◆ GetForces() [1/2]

double GetForces ( int  idx) const
inline

Definition at line 173 of file FGExternalReactions.h.

173{return vTotalForces(idx);}

◆ GetForces() [2/2]

const FGColumnVector3 & GetForces ( void  ) const
inline

Retrieves the total forces defined in the external reactions.

Returns
the total force in pounds.

Definition at line 172 of file FGExternalReactions.h.

172{return vTotalForces;}

◆ GetMoments() [1/2]

double GetMoments ( int  idx) const
inline

Definition at line 179 of file FGExternalReactions.h.

179{return vTotalMoments(idx);}

◆ GetMoments() [2/2]

const FGColumnVector3 & GetMoments ( void  ) const
inline

Retrieves the total moment resulting from the forces defined in the external reactions.

Returns
the total moment in foot-pounds.

Definition at line 178 of file FGExternalReactions.h.

178{return vTotalMoments;}

◆ InitModel()

bool InitModel ( void  )
overridevirtual

Reimplemented from FGModelFunctions.

Definition at line 107 of file FGExternalReactions.cpp.

108{
109 if (!FGModel::InitModel()) return false;
110
111 vTotalForces.InitMatrix();
112 vTotalMoments.InitMatrix();
113
114 return true;
115}

◆ Load()

bool Load ( Element *  el)
overridevirtual

Loads the external forces from the XML configuration file.

If the external_reactions section is encountered in the vehicle configuration file, this Load() method is called. All external forces will be parsed, and a FGExternalForce object will be instantiated for each force definition.

Parameters
ela pointer to the XML element holding the external reactions definition.

Reimplemented from FGModel.

Definition at line 61 of file FGExternalReactions.cpp.

62{
63 // Call the base class Load() function to load interface properties.
64 if (!FGModel::Upload(el, true))
65 return false;
66
67 Debug(2);
68
69 Element* force_element = el->FindElement("force");
70 while (force_element) {
71 auto force = std::make_unique<FGExternalForce>(FDMExec);
72 force->setForce(force_element);
73 Add(std::move(force));
74 force_element = el->FindNextElement("force");
75 }
76
77 Element* moment_element = el->FindElement("moment");
78 while (moment_element) {
79 auto moment = std::make_unique<FGExternalForce>(FDMExec);
80 moment->setMoment(moment_element);
81 Add(std::move(moment));
82 moment_element = el->FindNextElement("moment");
83 }
84
85 PostLoad(el, FDMExec);
86
87 return true;
88}
void Add(std::unique_ptr< FGExternalForce > force)
Adds a force or moment created in code to the external reactions.
bool Upload(Element *el, bool preLoad)
Uploads this model in memory.
Definition FGModel.cpp:123
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◆ Run()

bool Run ( bool  Holding)
overridevirtual

Sum all the constituent forces for this cycle.

Can pass in a value indicating if the executive is directing the simulation to Hold.

Parameters
Holdingif true, the executive has been directed to hold the sim from advancing time. Some models may ignore this flag, such as the Input model, which may need to be active to listen on a socket for the "Resume" command to be given.
Returns
true always.

Reimplemented from FGModel.

Definition at line 119 of file FGExternalReactions.cpp.

120{
121 if (FGModel::Run(Holding)) return true;
122 if (Holding) return false; // if paused don't execute
123 if (Forces.empty()) return true;
124
125 RunPreFunctions();
126
127 vTotalForces.InitMatrix();
128 vTotalMoments.InitMatrix();
129
130 for (unsigned int i=0; i<Forces.size(); i++) {
131 vTotalForces += Forces[i]->GetBodyForces();
132 vTotalMoments += Forces[i]->GetMoments();
133 }
134
135 RunPostFunctions();
136
137 return false;
138}
virtual bool Run(bool Holding)
Runs the model; called by the Executive.
Definition FGModel.cpp:101
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The documentation for this class was generated from the following files: