MULTIDISCIPLINARY OPTIMIZATION IN AIRCRAFT DESIGN USING ANALYTIC TECHNOLOGY MODELS

An approach to multidisciplinary optimization is presented that combines the global sensitivity equation method, parametric optimization, and analytic technology models. The result is a powerful yet simple procedure for identifying key design issues. It can be used both to investigate technology integration issues very early in the design cycle, and to establish the information flow framework between disciplines for use in multidisciplinary optimization projects using much more computationally intense representations of each technology. To illustrate the approach, an examination of the optimization of a short-takeoff, heavy transport aircraft is presented for numerous combinations of performance and technology constraints. The results show explicitly the takeoff weight penalty for transonic cruise Mach number and the wing sweep variation with cruise Mach number. Conceptual designs can be optimized rapidly with this approach.