Gradient-Based MDAO Framework for Advanced Aircraft Concepts
Abstract
Aircraft that incorporate novel technologies have the potential to unleash step changes in energy efficiency. These novel aircraft are highly integrated, can take advantage of electrification and closer airframe-propulsion integration, and leverage complex interactions between subsystems and new possibilities for aircraft operations. To support the need for advanced aircraft conceptual design studies, we develop and integrate a series of subsystem models in a multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization (MDAO) framework. Our framework, built upon NASA’s OpenMDAO and Aviary, leverages gradient-based optimization to efficiently explore the expanded aircraft design space that new technologies offer. The framework includes component models of various subsystems, including electrified propulsion, batteries, thermal management, aerodynamics, and aero-propulsive interactions. This paper presents the system-level integration of these subsystem models into an aircraft-level MDAO framework. We demonstrate its application to the conceptual design optimization of electrified aircraft for single-aisle and commuter classes. This MDAO framework will be made open source to contribute to ongoing research on next-generation aircraft design and sustainable aviation.
Maxfield Arnson
PhD Student and Graduate Research Assistant
Maxfield Arnson is a graduate student research assistant in the IDEAS Lab at the University of Michigan.
