Multidisciplinary analysis of subsonic stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicles

Abstract

In this paper, the GENUS multidisciplinary aircraft design and analysis environment is presented in its application to the conceptual design of tailless, low-observable unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs). Analysis disciplines comprise a variety of low to medium fidelity, physics-based and empirical methodologies, as well as higher order panel method aerodynamic analysis. Stealth considerations have been included in terms of a radar cross section analysis through a physical optics approximation method, with results verified against a well-known radar cross section prediction code. Preliminary results show good agreement for gross and empty masses when compared to several existing UCAV demonstrators and conceptual designs. A further validation of the presented methodologies is evaluated through the design, analysis, and optimisation of an unmanned strike fighter concept.

Conceptual Design of Low-Boom Low-Drag Supersonic Transports

“…The modules in GENUS are linked together tightly, which makes the multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization possible. GENUS has proven its capabilities through a solar UAV design [18], a hypersonic transport design [19], a blended-wing-body airliner design [20], a conventional airliner design [21] and a combat UAV design [22].…”

Low-boom low-drag optimization in a multidisciplinary design analysis optimization environment

“…1), and the design environment's ability to encompass the design methods for all of them. GENUS has been applied to several projects [26][27][28][29][30].…”

Conceptual design of a fifth generation unmanned strike fighter

“…The core philosophy of the GENUS architecture is flexibility, robustness, and expandability; its name derives from the taxonomical classification of biological organisms representing its capability to design and analyze various aircraft species through a common framework and common analysis methodologies. The GENUS aircraft design environment has been applied to the conceptual design of hypersonic transports, blended wing body aircraft, solarpowered UAVs [3], supersonic business jets [4], and subsonic low-observable UCAVs [5]. A brief description of the GENUS modules is given in the subsections below.…”