Optimizing system architectures by leveraging collaborative MDO

Abstract

In the early conceptual design stage the system architecture is determined. The decisions taken in this process have a large impact on the performance of the final design, and there is a lot of design freedom, however it is difficult to quantify the performance of architecture alternatives at this point. In my thesis, I want to enable the evaluation of system architecture alternatives using collaborative Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO). Collaborative MDO recognizes that in order to design a complex system such as an aircraft, many specialized engineering disciplines are needed. Collaborative MDO deals with the organizational and technical challenges in enabling collaboration between the integrator and the disciplinary experts, and the automated exchange of data.