Aerodynamic Performance Benefits of Over-the-Wing Distributed Propulsion for Hybrid-Electric Transport Aircraft

The goal of this study is to analyze how the aeropropulsive benefits of an over-the-wing distributed-propulsion (OTWDP) system at the component level translate into an aeropropulsive benefit at the aircraft level, as well as to determine whether this enhancement is sufficient to lead to a reduction in overall energy consumption. For this, the...

Cross-Validation of Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Sizing Methods

The number of studies on hybrid-electric aircraft is steadily increasing because these configurations can lead to lower operating costs and environmental impact than traditional aircraft. However, due to the lack of reference data of actual hybrid-electric aircraft, the design tools and results are difficult to validate. This paper analyzes...

Airplane Design Optimization for Minimal Global Warming Impact

This paper presents a method to assess the key performance indicators of aircraft designed for minimum direct operating costs and aircraft designed for minimum global warming impact. The method comprises a multidisciplinary aircraft optimization algorithm capable of changing wing, engine, and mission design variables while including constraints...

Selecting technologies in aircraft conceptual design using probabilistic inversion

Technology forecasting is an essential starting point for conceptual design of any complex engineering system. In fact, many research projects are focused on developing a small set of promising technologies to a suitable readiness level. However, selecting a set of technologies from a larger pool is a nontrivial task, opposed by uncertainty...

Aerodynamic Performance and Static Stability Characteristics of Aircraft with Tail-Mounted Propellers

In this combined experimental and numerical study, the propeller–airframe aerodynamic interaction is characterized for an aircraft configuration with propellers mounted to the horizontal tailplane. The contributions of the propeller and airframe to the overall loading are distinguished in the experimental analyses by using a combination of...

Experimental Investigation of Over-the-Wing Propeller–Boundary-Layer Interaction

This experimental study focuses on the aerodynamic interaction between an over-the-wing (OTW) propeller and a wing boundary layer. An OTW propeller is positioned above the hinge line of a wing with a trailing-edge flap. Measurements are carried out with and without axial pressure gradients by deflecting the flap and by extending the flat upper...

Aerodynamic interaction between propellers of a distributed-propulsion system in forward flight

This article describes an experimental investigation of the aerodynamic interaction that occurs between distributed propellers in forward flight. To this end, three propellers were installed in close proximity in a wind tunnel, and the changes in their performance, flow-field characteristics, and noise production were quantified using...

Automatically inferring technology compatibility with an ontology and graph rewriting rules

In conceptual design of any engineering system, decisions are made regarding which technologies to include and where. One of the first stages of that process is constructing the technology compatibility matrix (TCM), which indicates the compatibility of each pair in a technology set. Rather than constructing a TCM with expert judgment, this...

Engineering method to estimate the blade loading of propellers in nonuniform flow

Advances in aerodynamic and propulsive efficiency of future aircraft can be achieved by strategic installation of propellers near the airframe. This paper presents a robust and computationally efficient engineering method to estimate the load distribution of a propeller operating in arbitrary nonuniform flow that is induced by the airframe...

Towards a hybrid comfortable passenger cabin interior for the flying V aircraft

The Flying-V is a V-shaped airplane, which uses less fuel due its form. Passengers are in the oval cabin in the wing, which asks for an alternative design to the interior as the cabin is not in the flying direction. At the same time there is a demand for more comfortable interiors. 80 students were asked to develop interior design ideas for this...

Range equation for hybrid-electric aircraft with constant power split

There has been a surge in research related to hybrid-/ electric propulsion (HEP) over the past decade, since this technology has the potential to reduce the energy consumption and in-flight emissions of commercial aircraft and, therefore, to bring the aviation sector closer to the sustainability targets established by the European Commission [1]...

Preliminary Sizing Method for Hybrid-Electric Distributed-Propulsion Aircraft

The use of hybrid-electric propulsion (HEP) entails several potential benefits such as the distribution of power along the airframe, which enables synergistic configurations with improved aerodynamic and propulsive efficiency. This paper presents a comprehensive preliminary sizing method suitable for the conceptual design process of...

Impact of pulsed jet actuators on aircraft mass and fuel consumption

Pulsed jet actuators (PJAs) are one of the candidate technologies to be integrated in Fowler flaps to increase the maximum lift coefficient of transport aircraft in the landing configuration. The total system consists of the actuators plus sensors, a piping system to supply pressurized air and a (redundant) power and communication system to...

Design methodology for trailing-edge high-lift mechanisms

A new methodology has been developed that integrates the preliminary wing design with trailing edge high-lift systems and accounts for three-dimensional flap kinematics. The high-lift system in the developed application includes the kinematic synthesis of four common mechanisms (dropped-hinge, four-bar, link-track and hooked-track) and a...