High-Fidelity Aerodynamic Shape Optimization of a Lifting-Fuselage Concept for Regional Aircraft

Abstract

High-fidelity aerodynamic shape optimization based on the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations is used to optimize the aerodynamic performance of a conventional tube-and-wing design, a hybrid wing-body, and a novel lifting-fuselage concept for regional-class aircraft. Trim-constrained drag minimization is performed on a hybrid wing-body design, with an optimized conventional design serving as a performance reference. The optimized regional-class hybrid wing-body yields no drag savings when compared with the conventional reference aircraft. Starting from the optimized hybrid wing-body, an exploratory optimization with significant geometric freedom is then performed, resulting in a novel shape with a slender lifting fuselage and distinct wings. Based on this exploratory result, a new regional-class lifting-fuselage configuration is designed and optimized. With a span constrained by code “C” gate limits and having the same wing-only span as the conventional reference aircraft, this new design produces up to 10% lower drag than the reference aircraft. The effect of structural weight uncertainties, cruise altitude, and stability requirements are also examined.