CPACS LTA—Using Common Data Structures for Visualization and Optimization of Airship Designs

Abstract

AbstractComplex engineering projects require compartments from different engineering fields to work in close contact and exchange data from their workflows and specialized software tools regularly. Common data models are an immanent feature of systems engineering applications that can be used to reduce the number of interconnections between software modules. Using common open-source data structures in airship design helps engineers in evaluating and visualizing early designs using several methods. In the presented paper, we used the Extensible Markup Language (XML) data structure Common Parametric Aircraft Configuration Schema (CPACS) and associated high-level software libraries by German Aerospace Center (DLR) for a design optimization. The design optimization maximizes payload of a 15 t airship by its hull shape. Handbook methods for estimating weights and drag as well as a brute force algorithm are used in the design optimization. The result shows an explicit optimum of the design. With the experiences made, we developed an updated version of CPACS, allowing the definition of an additional vehicle category named ‘dirigible’.KeywordsLighter than air (LTA)AirshipCommon Parametric Aircraft Configuration Schema (CPACS)Multi-variable design optimization (MDO)Central model