Modelling approaches for the simulation-based preliminary design and optimization of electromechanical and hydraulic actuation systems

Abstract

This communication proposes to combine non causal modeling, metamodeling and scaling laws in order to take advantage of the inverse simulation capabilities of recent system level simulation software with the main target to assess technological alternatives quantitatively from a limited set of required data. The scaling laws are illustrated here for major hydraulic components (hydraulic cylinders and pumps) and are validated with manufacturers' data. The proposed methodology is illustrated with the preliminary sizing of an electro-hydrostatic actuator driving an aircraft primary flight control surface (aileron). The design exploration for geometrical integration and mass is realized using to surface response models.

A review of electromechanical actuators for More/All Electric aircraft systems

“…Thus, the simulation parameters, integration parameters, and operational parameters of EMA components can be similarly obtained according to different definition parameters. 121,122 For example, to get an better understanding for how much the EMA might weigh when sized to some load requirements, the mass criterion that is based on geometric similarity is adopted. Table 6 is the mass comparison of bearings and ball/roller screws, gear reducers, as well as electromechanical components, such as brushless motors, and clutches.…”

Preliminary design and multi-objective optimization of electro-hydrostatic actuator

“…The use of scaling law has the advantage of requiring only one reference component for a complete estimation of a product range. 8,11 The weight of the hydraulic cylinder is calculated by design parameters and design specification since the shape of the cylinder is relatively simple and related to the design specifications which make it possible to be calculated accurately.…”

“…Weight prediction of hydraulic pump. The scaling law of axial piston pumps has been studied in Fraj et al 8 In the context of power sizing for preliminary design, the hydraulic pump is considered as a definition parameter. The pump displacement D m represents the geometrical volume of liquid transferred by pump per unit rotation angle.…”

“…11 The most important constraints for pump is the mechanical limit of maximum rotational speed. The scaling law of maximum rotation speed of pump has been given in Fraj et al 8 The maximum speed is a power function of displacement with index of -1/3. Then the fitting equation in present study is defined as…”

“…5,6 Supported by advanced computational tools, early verification and virtual validation of solution in preliminary design can offer significantly cost reduction and quality enhancement over the entire design cycle. 7 A simulation-based preliminary design method involving preliminary sizing of an electromechanical actuator for an aircraft primary flight control surface (aileron) is proposed in Fraj et al 8 An improved integrated methodology for the preliminary design of electromechanical actuators in a redundant electromechanical nose gear steering system is given in Liscoue¨t et al 9 A model-based methodology for the optimal preliminary design of electro-mechanical actuators is developed in Budinger et al, 10,11 which indicates the usefulness of these estimation models. A methodology for the sizing, simulation, analysis, and optimization of electric actuators for the primary and second flight control surfaces of MEA is proposed in Chakraborty et al, 12,13 in which the estimates of control surface flight loads and actuator's weight, framing, and solving the optimization problem and actuator-to-surface allocation are presented.…”