Stabilizer

stabilizer: see airplane.

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stabilizer, stabiliser

1. any device for stabilizing an aircraft

2. a substance added to something to maintain it in a stable or unchanging state, such as an additive to food to preserve its texture during distribution and storage

3. Nautical

a. a system of one or more pairs of fins projecting from the hull of a ship and controllable to counteract roll

b. See gyrostabilizer

4. either of a pair of brackets supporting a small wheel that can be fitted to the back wheel of a bicycle to help an inexperienced cyclist to maintain balance

5. an electronic device for producing a direct current supply of constant voltage

6. Economics a measure, such as progressive taxation, interest-rate control, or unemployment benefit, used to restrict swings in prices, employment, production, etc., in a free economy

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stabilizer [′stā·bə‚līz·ər]

(aerospace engineering)

Any airfoil or any combination of airfoils considered as a single unit, the primary function of which is to give stability to an aircraft or missile.

(chemical engineering)

The fractionation column in a petroleum refinery used to stabilize (remove fractions from) hydrocarbon mixtures.

(engineering)

A hardened, splined bushing, sometimes freely rotating, slightly larger than the outer diameter of a core barrel and mounted directly above the core barrel back head. Also known as ferrule; fluted coupling.

A tool located near the bit in the drilling assembly to modify the deviation angle in a well by controlling the location of the contact point between the hole and the drill collars.

(materials)

Any powdered or liquid additive used as an agent in soil stabilization.

Any substance that tends to maintain the physical and chemical properties of a material.

(mathematics)

The stabilizer of a pointxin a Riemann surfaceX, relative to a groupGof conformal mappings ofXonto itself, is the subgroupG_xofGconsisting of elementsgsuch thatg(x) =x. Also known as stability subgroup.

(naval architecture)

Any of the submerged fins used on ships to prevent rolling.

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stabilizer

A substance used to increase the stability of a solution or suspension, usually by preventing precipitation.

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Stabilizer 

an aerodynamic surface providing stability for an aircraft in flight. The stabilizer of an airplane is the fixed or movable leading section of the horizontal empennage. A stationary stabilizer provides stability and has an elevator attached by a hinge to its trailing edge. A movable, controlled stabilizer, which sometimes lacks an elevator, provides both stability and control. Such stabilizers are usually mounted on supersonic airplanes when elevators are not sufficiently effective at high altitudes. The stabilizers of rockets are placed in the tail section and displace the center of pressure of the aerodynamic forces acting on the rocket in atmospheric flight toward the rear of the rocket.