Collaborative understanding of disciplinary correlations using a low-fidelity physics based aerospace toolkit

Abstract

Covering all relevant physical effects and mutual influences during aircraft preliminary design at a sufficient level of fidelity necessitates simultaneous consideration of a large number of disciplines. This requires an approach in which teams of engineers apply their analysis tools and knowledge to collaboratively approach design challenges. In the current work, recent technical advancements of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in data and workflow management are utilized for establishing a toolbox containing elementary disciplinary analysis modules. This toolbox is focussed on providing fast overall aircraft design capabilities. The incorporated empirical and physics based tools of low fidelity level can be used for setting up modular design workflows, tailored for the design cases under consideration. This allows the involved engineers to identify initial design trends at a low computational effort. Furthermore, areas of common physical affinity are identified, serving as a basis for communication and for incorporating tools of higher fidelity in later phases of the design process. Clear visualisation methods aid in efficiently translating knowledge between the involved engineers within the identified areas of common affinity. A system-of-systems approach is established by applying the elementary aircraft design toolbox for the establishment of requirement catalogues for engine preliminary design. The engine designers at their turn deliver initial performance correlations for application in the aircraft design toolbox. In this way, a clear synergy is established between the design of both the airframe and power plant. Using this approach, engineers of different technical backgrounds share their knowledge in a collaborative design approach. The use case guiding the present work involves a conventional short to medium range aircraft sent at half the design range. The wing area and aspect ratio are varied to investigate the influence on the engine requirements catalogue for this particular mission.