A Parametric Study Of Blended Wing Body Geometry Using A Hybridization Factor and CST Approach
P. Casanovas (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
F. Orefice – Mentor (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
Carmine Varriale – Mentor (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
N. Yue – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
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Abstract
Blended Wing Body aircraft offer the potential for major improvements in aerodynamic efficiency, fuel burn, and internal volume compared to conventional designs. However, current parametric modelling tools are often configuration-specific, which limits design exploration across different levels of wing–fuselage integration.This thesis presents a novel three-dimensional parametric framework that enables a unified geometric representation of aircraft ranging from conventional layouts to fully blended wing-body configurations. The method introduces a hybridization factor to control the degree of blending, combined with a 3D Class-Shape Transformation (CST) approach to define the outer mold line with a compact set of parameters. The framework is validated against multiple reference aircraft and concepts, and then applied to a hydrogen-powered A320-class BWB design study to evaluate how hybridization and wing parameters influence aerodynamic efficiency, volume, and stability. Results show that the hybridization factor strongly drives performance trends, enabling the identification of promising configurations that balance efficiency and volumetric requirements.