A Coupled Global-Local Optimization Process for Fuselage Structures

Abstract

The aeroelastic loads and design processes at DLR-AE in the framework of multi-disciplinary optimization are constantly evolving. New developments have been made in the in-house model generation tool ModGen which allow us to create fuselage models for preliminary design. As a part of the subsequent developments to integrate the fuselage structure in our aeroelastic design process, a new framework for optimizing the fuselage structure has been developed. The process is based on a multi-level optimization approach which follows a coupled global-local optimization methodology to simplify a very large optimization problem. In this paper, we present a physical sub-structure grouping process which enables reduced number of panel optimizations and saves considerable computational effort with little compromise in the solution accuracy.