Inverse Design Approach for Low-Boom Supersonic Configurations

Abstract

The shaped sonic boom theory is a valuable, efficient, computationally economical, and robust tool in preliminary design of low-boom aircraft configurations. Instead of introducing a new F-function parameterization, because it has been investigated already in the past, this paper adopts a more general formulation proposed in the literature and focuses on reducing the limitations of the inverse method in the design process. Three main contributions are proposed: 1) a revisited procedure based on optimization to solve the coefficients of the F function that enables to switch between different parameterizations, 2) a definition of the geometry corresponding to the equivalent area distribution combined with a fuselage tailoring process based on direct shape optimization, and 3) a strategy to introduce a generic acoustic metrics in the definition of an optimum F function. The proposed strategy enables the designer to evaluate the geometry of a low-boom configuration that corresponds to a desired F function in a complete inverse design approach. In this way, the usual limits of the inverse method are significantly alleviated by the present method.