Enhancement Opportunities for Conceptual Design in Aerospace Based on the Advanced Morphological Approach

Abstract

The current challenges facing the aerospace domain require unconventional solutions, which could be sought in new configurations of future aircraft and spacecraft. The choice of optimal concepts requires the consideration of a significant amount of competing engineering solutions and takes place under conditions of uncertainty. Such a problem can be addressed by enhancing existing methods for analysis and synthesis solutions, such as the Advanced Morphological Approach (AMA). It uses morphological analysis to provide a more exhaustive overview of possible problem solutions, relies on expert evaluations of alternative technological options and applies clustering to the solution space. Although an intuitive method for structured concept generation, the AMA exposes the need for more robust problem structuring, improved objectivity of options evaluation and accounting for uncertainties. The current article suggests ways to overcome these challenges and their possible integration in the process. In particular, the integration of fuzzy sets is proposed to model uncertainties during the evaluation of technological options by the experts. The Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process is adapted for integration into the AMA and for the conceptual design of aerospace vehicles.

Sensitivity Analysis and System Attribute Importance for Conceptual Aircraft Design with the Advanced Morphological Approach

“…As shown in Figure 1, the technology evaluations are obtained from dedicated expert workshops, which implement a SEJE methodology specifically developed for the conceptual aircraft design with the AMA. The workshop methodology, its justifications, and applications are described in References [5,6]. The current work conducts the SA approach on the results of the first AMA workshop, which focused on the conceptual design of a SAR aircraft [6].…”

“…The workshop methodology, its justifications, and applications are described in References [5,6]. The current work conducts the SA approach on the results of the first AMA workshop, which focused on the conceptual design of a SAR aircraft [6]. The defined mission implies the following aspects: The MM with the selected attributes and options is presented in Figure 2.…”

“…The defined mission implies the following aspects: The MM with the selected attributes and options is presented in Figure 2. These were evaluated by the experts according to the following criteria: As stated in the definition of the workshop methodology in Reference [6], the evaluations of the MM options are structured in a hierarchy and are processed with the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) by Saaty [17]. The hierarchy defined for the current use case is shown in Figure 3.…”

“…Subsequently, the AHP algorithm allows one to calculate the global option weights according to each criterion from their pairwise comparisons. The application of the AHP within the AMA design process as well as the uncertianty modeling for the option evaluations are presented in more detail in Reference [18]. Reprinted from [6].…”

“…For the purpose, a full-scale structured expert judgment elicitation (SEJE) method has been developed with an appropriate questionnaire, uncertainty modeling, workshop and problem structure, as well as data post-processing [5]. The methodology has been applied and iteratively developed on two use cases so far: the conceptual design of a search and rescue (SAR) aircraft [6] and the conceptual design of wing morphing architectures [5]. On a global scale, the desired output of the AMA is a reduced design subspace of rational configurations for further consideration.…”