Surmounting modeling pitfalls

A look at software tools that aid in the efficient model-based design of next-generation energy-optimized aircraft.

Model-based design of aircraft has gained momentum in the past three decades as the complexity of aircraft subsystems has increased and the costs associated with discovering design problems during the hardware test phase have escalated. While many of the recent programs in this arena have dealt with more-electric aircraft (MEA) and the complexities involved in the aircraft electric power system (EPS), interactions between thermal, fuel, mechanical, and additional systems also play a crucial role in the overall energy use of modern aircraft. Thus, to achieve an energy-optimized aircraft (EOA) design, all of these energy flows and interactions must be understood.

Depending on the aircraft requirements, the term “energy optimized aircraft” can have many meanings and interpretations. In the simplest terms an EOA is one that uses the least amount of energy (typically, fuel) to accomplish a given mission. However, due to the complexities involved with numerous interacting subsystems, this is not simply a matter of minimizing the energy use of each subsystem individually at certain design points, as has traditionally been done. For a given aircraft design, achieving an EOA requires a detailed understanding of the numerous interactions between all the subsystems and an accurate accounting of energy use. Within the constraints of the design and the goals of the program, the energy use can then be minimized to achieve an EOA design.