A Simulation-based Design Model for Analysis and Optimization of Multi-State Aircraft Performance

Abstract

This paper introduces an approach to aircraft design and analysis that focuses on the evaluation of aircraft as multi-state systems, where a multi-state system is one having a finite set of performance levels or ranges, differentiated in this case by distinct levels of failure. In order to accurately examine numerous aircraft performance states, a multidisciplinary design model was used, consisting of an open-source 6-DoF flight simulator integrated with a vortex lattice aerodynamics solver and a MATLAB routine for calculation of weights and inertias. The primary impetus for using a flight simulator run in batch mode was to facilitate a global approach for concurrent analysis of aircraft expected performance and availability. Namely, by allowing systematic calculation of performance metrics for differing aircraft states, the relationship between an aircraft’s global design variables and its performance and availability may be established. Such an approach allows designers to identify those elements that might drive system loss probability through an analysis of performance changes across system states and their respective sensitivity to design variables.