Advanced Aircraft Design: Conceptual Design, Analysis and Optimization of Subsonic Civil Airplanes

Advanced Aircraft Design: Conceptual Design, Analysis and Optimization of Subsonic Civil Airplanes presents a quasi-analytical optimization approach based on a concise set of sizing equations. Objectives are aerodynamic efficiency, mission fuel, empty weight and maximum takeoff weight. Independent design variables studied include design cruise altitude, wing area and span and thrust or power loading. Principal features of integrated concepts such as the blended wing and body and highly non-planar wings are also covered.

The quasi-analytical approach enables designers to compare the results of high-fidelity MDO optimization with lower-fidelity methods which need far less computational effort. Another advantage to this approach is that it can provide answers to “what if” questions rapidly and with little computational cost.

Key features:

• Presents a new fundamental vision on conceptual airplane design optimization
• Provides an overview of advanced technologies for propulsion and reducing aerodynamic drag
• Offers insight into the derivation of design sensitivity information
• Emphasizes design based on first principles
• Considers pros and cons of innovative configurations
• Reconsiders optimum cruise performance at transonic Mach numbers

Advanced Aircraft Design: Conceptual Design, Analysis and Optimization of Subsonic Civil Airplanes advances understanding of the initial optimization of civil airplanes and is a must-have reference for aerospace engineering students, applied researchers, aircraft design engineers and analysts.