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Future aircraft concepts and design methods

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

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: [email protected]
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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
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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