TiGL: An Open Source Computational Geometry Library for Parametric Aircraft Design

Abstract

This paper introduces the software TiGL: TiGL is an open source high-fidelity geometry modeler that is used in the conceptual and preliminary aircraft and helicopter design phase. It creates full three-dimensional models of aircraft from their parametric CPACS description. Due to its parametric nature, it is typically used for aircraft design analysis and optimization. First, we present the use-case and architecture of TiGL. Then, we discuss it's geometry module, which is used to generate the B-spline based surfaces of the aircraft. The backbone of TiGL is its surface generator for curve network interpolation, based on Gordon surfaces. One major part of this paper explains the mathematical foundation of Gordon surfaces on B-splines and how we achieve the required curve network compatibility. Finally, TiGL's aircraft component module is introduced, which is used to create the external and internal parts of aircraft, such as wings, flaps, fuselages, engines or structural elements.Mathematics Subject Classification (2010). 65D17, 65D05, 65D10.

Disciplinary Implications of a System Architecting Approach to Collaborative Aircraft Design

“…Besides the common form, a key feature of a common language is a consistent interpretation. For aircraft geometry, the de facto standard interpretation is provided by the TiGL (TiGL Geometry Library) library [21]. Leveraging the open source Open CASCADE Technology CAD kernel [22], the ever expanding feature set of TiGL no longer just includes lofting of the wings and fuselage surfaces, but also modeling of primary structure, movables, engine nacelles and more.…”

Collaborative Aircraft Engine Preliminary Design using a Virtual Engine Platform, Part A: Architecture and Methodology

“…8). The CAD interface uses the experience gained during the development of the geometry library TiGL [29], which is used for the geometry generation in the preliminary aircraft design at DLR [30][31][32]. This includes surface modeling such as section skinning or curve network interpolation, as well as the geometry export into common data formats.…”

MDAx: Agile Generation of Collaborative MDAO Workflows for Complex Systems

“…Value updates are a common scenario in practice where initial values are assumed or parameter fidelity changes, and should therefore exist in a workflow model. Similarly, blocks that have no input and/or no output and thus no connection to the used data schema are frequently used to visualize results, as in the case of TiGL [26], or to write to a database or file.…”