Multidisciplinary Optimization of Supersonic Aircraft Including Low-Boom Considerations

Abstract

This paper presents a multidisciplinary optimization framework developed by the authors and applied to small-size supersonic aircraft. The multidisciplinary analysis suite is based on the combination of low (empirical) and high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and computational structure mechanics (CSM) tools for predicting the overall aircraft performance and the sonic boom overpressure at supersonic flight, which represents the most challenging environmental constraint for supersonic aircraft. The analysis suite is coupled with a multi-objective optimization strategy for quantifying the trade-off between the maximum take-off weight, mission range, and the sonic boom overpressure. The optimization framework is applied to a small-size supersonic business-jet cruising at Mach number M=1.8 and featuring a double delta wing. The trade-offs between disciplines are well captured and an optimized configuration achieving the target mission range with a lower maximum take-off weight, and a moderate sonic boom signature is obtained through changes in wing dihedral and sweep. A more drastic reduction of the sonic boom signature is also obtained but at the cost of a significant reduction of the aircraft performance.