Integration of Technologies for the Design and Optimization of a Stratospheric Hypersonic Vehicle

Abstract

The design of a hypersonic vehicle has been carried out by integrating a number of disciplines that facilitate the fulfillment of the requirements. The main objective of the work is to find the best structural scheme in the interior of the vehicle and to optimize the design. The procedure was performed using a bi-level approach that allowed to identify in detail not only the skin thickness but also the elements used to stiffen the main structural components. Gradient-based and global search algorithms were used as optimization techniques, the values of stresses, displacements, buckling factors, and natural frequencies were the constraints considered in the procedure. Finally, a multi-objective optimization was carried out, obtaining a Pareto front that allows trade-off studies and in the decision making process.