Aircraft Systems Conceptual Design : An object-oriented approach from <element> to <aircraft>

Abstract

Aircraft Conceptual Design (ACD) is facing new challenges on the way to enhanced fidelity level required in, nowadays complex, system design. The challenge during this early design phase is the use of higher-fidelity methods typically applied in later development stages. Integration of models and simulations to enhance analysis capability while maintaining a streamlined, transparent, and low cost (low effort regarding task time and workforce) work process is therefore required.In this thesis, the use of object-oriented KBE methods to enable an early integration of simulation models, based on incomplete data, is presented. Before this, careful investigations of modelling and simulation approaches of multi-domain systems are carried out, and their use in the ACD phase is examined regarding the efficiency between effort and result accuracy. A central, parametric information model approach to make this possible is presented. By the means of the extended use of XML, XSD and XSLT, domain-specific architectural models can be translated from this dataset, supporting a direct CAD domain integration and automated model creation.Modelling systems as graph networks is a simple approach for unified modelling in the conceptual design stage. Based on this theory, the similarity of different modelling approaches like Dependency Structure Matrix (DSM), MDDSM, or Channel-Agency Networks is shown. Using object-oriented programming, all these and more aspects such as e.g. Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) can be handled globally as one graph set.Based on the outcomes of the theoretical part, the development of a conceptual aircraft design framework is described. Backed by a central XML-based namespace, this framework integrates a complete CAD environment to ensure an appropriate environment for the geometric domain modelling. In addition, the use of KBE for automated simulation i model integration is exemplified by a hydraulic aircraft flight control system (FCS) simulation model. In conclusion, an example of multiaspect modelling using object-oriented handling of a graph network is shown. For future scenarios, unified modelling and semantic approaches are mentioned. ii Populärvetenskaplig SammanfattningMed nya, mer komplexa och mer integrerade flygplansgrundsystem står konceptutvärderingsfasen (ACD) inför nya utmaningar. Multidisciplinärt, anpassningsförmåga, konstruktionsautomation, förbättrad analysnoggrannhet och modellbaserad integrerad utveckling (MBSE) är några nyckelord. I denna avhandling diskuterats användning av objektorienterade Knowledge Based Engineering-(KBE) metoder i konceptutvärder-ingsfasen som möjliggör en tidig integration av simuleringsmodeller baserade på ofullständiga designuppgifter. Denna integration av modeller och simulering ska leda till en ökad analyskapacitet och samtidigt bibehålla en strömlinjeformad, transparent och snabbt arbetsprocess.I avhandlingens teoretiska del behandlas universella modelleringsmetoder (som DSM och Channel-Agency Nätverk) och simuleringsstrategier. Dessutom analyseras och bes...

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