Innovative Multiple Matching Charts approach to support the conceptual design of hypersonic vehicles

Abstract

Several well-established best practices and reliable tools have been developed along the years to support aircraft conceptual and preliminary design. In this context, one of the most widely used tool is the Matching Chart (MC), a graphical representation of the different performance requirements (curves representing the thrust-to-weight ratio (T/W) requirement as function of the wing loading (W/S)) for each mission phase. The exploitation of this tool allows the identification of a feasible design space as well as the definition of a reference vehicle configuration in terms of maximum thrust, maximum take-off weight, and wing surface since the very beginning of the design process. Although the tool was originally developed for conventional aircraft, several extensions and updates of the mathematical models have been proposed over the years to widen its application to innovative configurations. Following this trend, this paper presents a further evolution of the MC model to support the conceptual design of high-speed transportation systems, encompassing supersonic and hypersonic flight vehicles. At this purpose, this paper reports and discusses the updates of the methodology laying behind the generation of the MC for high-speed transportation. Eventually, the results of the validation of the updated methodology and tool are reported, using as case study, the STRATOFLY MR3 vehicle configuration, a Mach 8 antipodal civil transportation system, currently under development within the H2020 STRATOFLY project.

Conceptual aerodynamic design of an executive supersonic passenger aircraft – ESPA

“…An example of this approach, applied to a supersonic business jet using a reference design, is by Chudoba and Coleman. 29 Ferretto and Fusaro 30 argue the single matching chart approach is not viable for supersonic or hypersonic aircraft as it must also be optimized for the transitory mission speeds, altitudes and engine states and types they pass through. Ferretto and Fusaro 30 create instead a formulaic parameterization approach based on multiple matching charts (MMCs), where the individual and collective trade-offs and viability can be visualized.…”

“…29 Ferretto and Fusaro 30 argue the single matching chart approach is not viable for supersonic or hypersonic aircraft as it must also be optimized for the transitory mission speeds, altitudes and engine states and types they pass through. Ferretto and Fusaro 30 create instead a formulaic parameterization approach based on multiple matching charts (MMCs), where the individual and collective trade-offs and viability can be visualized. Examples may be subsonic cruise overpopulated areas, supersonic cruise with a turbojet, and supersonic cruise with ramjet.…”

Aerodynamic Characterization of Hypersonic Transportation Systems and Its Impact on Mission Analysis

“…Benefitting from the heritage of past European funded projects and, in particular, from the LAPCAT II project led by ESA [1], the waverider configuration has been adopted and investigated in-depth throughout all flight phases. STARTOFLY MR3 is a highly integrated system, where propulsion, aerothermodynamics, structures and on-board subsystems are strictly interrelated to one another, as highlighted in Figure 2a [2,3]. An overview of the vehicle dimensions is also reported in Table 1 [2].…”

“…Nowadays, the high-speed air and space transportation systems are experiencing a revolution in the design process, which is resulting in highly innovative and integrated concepts, able to push the performance barrier beyond the limits. This is especially visible in the case of hypersonic civil transportation Energies 2021, 14, 3580 2 of 28 systems, such as the STRATOFLY MR3 concept, where the need to meet a set of challenging technical and operational requirements may impose the adoption of highly integrated waverider configurations [1][2][3][4]. In these cases, it is fundamental to support the vehicle design process with a set of aerodynamic investigations and mission analysis, with an increasing level of complexity.…”

Sustainable Supersonic Fuel Flow Method: An Evolution of the Boeing Fuel Flow Method for Supersonic Aircraft Using Sustainable Aviation Fuels

“…In the attempt to meet the ambitious environmental goals set by the IATA for the coming years (e.g., net aviation CO 2 emissions from 2020 (carbon-neutral growth), reduction in net aviation CO 2 emissions of 50% by 2050 relative to 2005 levels), without jeopardizing the dream of a new generation of high-speed aircraft, it will be necessary to introduce proper algorithms to allow for pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions estimation from the conceptual design stage [8]. The most widely used method to estimate aircraft engine emissions is the so-called "P3-T3 method" [9], which is based on semiempirical correlations of emissions with the pressure and temperature at the compressor exit or combustor diffuser inlet along with the engine fuel flow.…”