The Investigation of Supersonic Commercial Transport Performance Issues Using Multivariate Optimization

This paper describes the ASTRO multivariate optimisation code, comprising Supersonic Commercial Transport (SCT) conceptual design synthesis routines linked to a constrained optimisation method. The code currently optimises up to 33 independent variables, describing the aircraft and its operation, while applying up to 29 constraints. Aircraft take-off mass or operating costs can be minimised. The modeling used in the synthesis is described and two studies using ASTRO are presented, one showing the sensitivity of an SCT to changes in airfield noise requirements beyond current Stage 3 levels, and the other exploring the influence of subsonic leg length on the optimum configuration.