Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T00:17:40.412Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A zonal safety analysis methodology for preliminary aircraft systems and structural design

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2018

Z. Chen
Affiliation:
School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Bedford, UK
J. P. Fielding*
Affiliation:
School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Bedford, UK

Abstract

Zonal Safety Analysis (ZSA) is a major part of the civil aircraft safety assessment process described in Aerospace Recommended Practice 4761 (ARP4761). It considers safety effects that systems/items installed in the same zone (i.e. a defined area within the aircraft body) may have on each other. Although the ZSA may be conducted at any design stage, it would be most cost-effective to do it during preliminary design, due to the greater opportunity for influence on system and structural designs and architecture. The existing ZSA methodology of ARP4761 was analysed, but it was found to be more suitable for detail design rather than preliminary design. The authors therefore developed a methodology that would be more suitable for preliminary design and named it the Preliminary Zonal Safety Analysis (PZSA). This new methodology was verified by means of the use of a case study, based on the NASA N3-X project. Several lessons were learnt from the case study, leading to refinement of the proposed method. These lessons included focusing on the positional layout of major components for the zonal safety inspection, and using the Functional Hazard Analysis (FHA)/Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) to identify system external failure modes. The resulting PZSA needs further refinement, but should prove to be a useful design tool for the preliminary design process.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. SAE International, ARP4761: Guidelines and methods for conducting the safety assessment process on civil airborne systems and equipment, 1996, Society of Automotive Engineers, US.Google Scholar
2. SAE International, ARP4754A: Guidelines for development of civil aircraft and systems, 2010, Society of Automotive Engineers, US.Google Scholar
3. Raymer, D.P. Aircraft Design: A Conceptual Approach, 4th ed., 2006, AIAA, US.Google Scholar
4. Boeing, Maintenance review board report (Boeing 747/747SP): Maintenance program, 1976, Department of Transportation, US.Google Scholar
5. SAE International, ARP5151: Safety assessment of general aviation airplanes and rotorcraft in commercial service, 2013, Society of Automotive Engineers, US.Google Scholar
6. Yu, H. Zonal Safety Analysis of Methodology for Aircraft Preliminary Design Stage: Case Study of LNG-14 Forward Fuselage, AVD Msc thesis, 2015, Cranfield University.Google Scholar
7. Chen, Z. Cost and Performance Analysis for NASA N3-X Hybrid Wing Body Aircraft, AVD Msc thesis, 2016, Cranfield University.Google Scholar
8. Smith, H. Hybrid wing body aircraft with turboelectric distributed propulsion NASA N3-X project specification, 2015, Cranfield University, pp 5-23.Google Scholar
9. Lei, T. Fuel System Tanking, Feeding and Management, AVD Msc thesis, 2016, Cranfield University.Google Scholar
10. Chen, Y. Secondary Power System and Generators for NASA N3-X, AVD Msc thesis, 2016, Cranfield University.Google Scholar
11. Al Zayat, M.K. Liquid Hydrogen Systems and Tank of a Hybrid Blended Wing Body Aircraft (N3-X), AVD Msc thesis, 2016, Cranfield University.Google Scholar
12. Papanikolaou, E. Hybrid Wing Body Aircraft with Turboelectric Distributed Propulsion NASA N3-X Flight Control Actuation System Design, AVD Msc thesis, 2016, Cranfield University.Google Scholar
13. Frias, Alvarez, M. N3-X Aircraft: Safety, Reliability & Maintainability Design, AVD Msc thesis, 2016, Cranfield University.Google Scholar
14. SAE International SAE Standards, 2016, Available at: http://www.standards.sae.org, Accessed on 1 June 2016.Google Scholar
15. SAE International, J2578: Recommended practice for general fuel cell vehicle safety, revised August 2014, Society of Automotive Engineers, US.Google Scholar
16. SAE International, J2579: Standard for fuel systems in fuel cell and other hydrogen vehicles, revised March 2013, Society of Automotive Engineers, US.Google Scholar