Using CPACS for the multidisciplinary design and assessment of future aircraft concepts

Abstract

In today’s aviation landscape, research is focused on aircraft architectures and operations, which are, both, economically viable and ecologically responsible. To ensure that the economic and ecological considerations of aircraft operations are effectively integrated into the aircraft design process, collaboration across disciplines and expertise is essential. The Common Parametric Aircraft Configuration Schema (CPACS) serves as a central data interface that facilitates this collaboration by providing a standardized framework for efficient and robust communication between the different disciplines involved in aircraft design and assessment. This paper presents applications of CPACS in software environments and research projects from the German Aerospace Center e. V. (DLR) and from Bauhaus Luftfahrt e. V. (BHL). Together, these applications of CPACS demonstrate the practical benefits of a central data interface in aircraft design and assessment. The insights from using CPACS in internal and external projects from BHL and DLR showcase how advanced modeling and simulation techniques can collaborate via the CPACS interface. The discussed use cases cover aircraft designs with novel technologies (e.g., hydrogen propulsion and water-enhanced turbofans) and extensive assessments of their operations with a dual focus on economic viability and environmental impact (e.g., forecast and fleet evolution, boarding, turnaround, operating cost, route networks, emissions, and climate impact). Additional practical examples underline how CPACS can be used within a software design process and how CPACS can be modified according to the user’s individual needs.