Extensible aircraft fuselage model generation for a multidisciplinary, multi-fidelity context

Kurzfassung

In this paper, a knowledge-based approach to support analysis model generation is proposed, which aims to improve consistency among the models used by different contributors in collaborative multi-disciplinary design optimization, while also being open for adaptation to novel product architectures. This is accomplished by providing linked design rules in a centralized repository, outlining relationships between different data points in a central product data format such as CPACS (Common Parametric Aircraft Configuration Schema). Using graph-based methods, the rules can be combined and executed to provide new product data, which is required for increasingly detailed analysis model generation, based on previously available information in CPACS. In this way, the method is open for extension to account for novel product architectures or different design paradigms, simply by adding new rules to the rule repository. The tool FUGA (Fuselage Geometry Assembler), which implements the approach for the fuselage design problem is also presented. Fuselage design includes aspects of preliminary aircraft design, structural design, cabin design, which are closely interlinked. Furthermore, the range of requirements w.r.t. the level of detail of the different analysis models involved is large, ranging from a simple outer mold line and mass points in preliminary design, to detailed 3D models required for industrialization. It is shown how FUGA is applied to provide consistent geometry models tailored to the specific requirements of the different disciplines. The extensibility of the approach is demonstrated by including an additional set of rules for placing liquidhydrogen (LH2) tanks in the fuselage.