A Model-Based Methodology for the Integration of a System Architecture in a Digital Aircraft Design Process

Kurzfassung

Due to the current trend towards sustainable, environmentally friendly, and digitally networked aircraft, it is necessary to integrate new revolutionary technology. This increases complexity and necessitates the investigation of novel aircraft designs and configurations early, quickly, and cost-effectively. Innovative concepts and approaches are necessary to handle this complexity. Model-based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is a fundamental approach to support and manage complex system development. Notable benefits are achieved compared to more traditional document-based methods. Therefore, researchers at the DLR Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics are developing a process to fully digitalize and virtualize an aircraft. This enables it to be completely represented as a virtual product, allowing for the rapid implementation, visualization, and validation of novel design concepts. This work extends the digital design process with a model-based methodology for developing and integrating the functional system architecture. An application use case on passenger service functions serves as a proof of concept (PoC) during the methodology evaluation. At the beginning, the system is analyzed and it's architecture is modeled using the Systems Modeling Language (SysML). The system requirements are defined and all model elements are linked together. This improves the traceability and enables early error detection as well as the validation of requirements. The system model is then linked to existing models. Model integration allows the system architecture to be configured with cabin design parameters from CPACS and the architecture data to be used for geometrical cabin design. To illustrate advantages of architecture integration, multidisciplinary optimization is investigated based on the interaction between the different models. A trade-off analysis is performed using multidisciplinary design parameters regarding electrical power distribution and cable length. The interactions and effects between the design domains are therefore identified and analyzed.