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Future aircraft concepts and design methods

Part of: The AJ Special Rotorcraft Collection Written Paper Prizes 2023 Sustainable Aerospace

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 December 2021

Robert A. McDonald ,
Brian J. German ,
T. Takahashi ,
C. Bil Open the ORCID record for C. Bil [Opens in a new window] ,
W. Anemaat ,
A. Chaput ,
R. Vos  and
N. Harrison
Robert A. McDonald
Affiliation:
Aviation Consultant, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA
Brian J. German
Affiliation:
Center for Urban and Regional Air Mobility, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, USA
T. Takahashi
Affiliation:
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
C. Bil*
Affiliation:
RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
W. Anemaat
Affiliation:
DARcorporation, Lawrence, KS, USA
A. Chaput
Affiliation:
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
R. Vos
Affiliation:
Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
N. Harrison
Affiliation:
Boeing Research & Technology, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
*
E-mail: cees.bil@rmit.edu.au
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Abstract

With an annual growth in travel demand of about 5% globally, managing the environmental impact is a challenge. In 2019, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) issued emission reduction targets, including well-to-wake greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduced at least 50% from 2005 levels by 2050. This discusses several technologies from an aircraft design perspective that can contribute to achieving these targets. One thing is certain: aircraft will look different in the future. The Transonic Truss-Braced Wing and Flying V configurations are promising significant efficiency improvements over conventional configurations. Electric propulsion, in various architectures, is becoming a feasible option for general aviation and commuter aircraft. It will be a growing field of aviation with zero-emissions flight and opportunities for special missions. Lastly, this paper discusses methods and design processes that include all relevant disciplines to ensure that the aircraft is optimised as a complete system. While empirical methods are essential for initial design, Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation (MDO) incorporates models and simulations integrated in an optimisation environment to capture critical trade-offs. Concurrent design places domain experts in one site to facilitate collaboration, interaction, and joint decision-making, and to ensure all disciplines are equally considered. It is supported by a Collaborative Design Facility (CDF), an information technology facility with connected hardware and software tools for design analysis.

Keywords

Aircraft configurationsDesign methodsElectric propulsionSustainabilityEmission reduction

Information

Type
Survey Paper
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 126 , Special Issue 1295: This special issue marks the 125th anniversary of The Aeronautical Journal , January 2022 , pp. 92 - 124
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Royal Aeronautical Society

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