Tradeoff Study between Cost and Environmental Impact of Aircraft Using Simultaneous Optimization of Airframe and Engine Cycle

Abstract

To investigate more efficient aircraft configurations which have less environmental impact, this paper develops a multidisciplinary analysis framework integrated with the airframe and propulsion analysis modules. The characteristics for propulsion, aerodynamics, weight, performance, cost, emissions, and noise can be rapidly predicted by the framework. The impact of propulsion installation with large diameter engines on aircraft weight and drag are considered in the framework. A wide-body aircraft was taken as an example for the optimization to investigate the tradeoffs between the cost metric and the environmental performance metrics. Several cases for single objective and multiobjective optimizations were performed. In the single objective optimizations, the direct operating cost, the cumulative noise, the oxides of nitrogen emissions during landing-takeoff cycle, and the mission oxides of nitrogen emissions were considered as an objective and minimized, respectively. The different objectives resulted in designs with different airframe parameters and engine cycle parameters. In the multiobjective optimizations, the direct operating costs and environmental performances were considered as the objectives simultaneously. The optimization results were the Pareto fronts for the minimum direct operating costs and environmental performances, which illustrate the quantitative relationships between the economic metric and the environmental performances.

Conceptual design optimization of a wide-body commercial aircraft using a competitiveness model

“…In order to evaluate the competitiveness of the design candidates, the values of attributes in Figure 3 are needed to be computed or assigned. In this work a multidisciplinary analysis code 21,22 for the commercial aircraft conceptual design is applied to compute the values of DOC, takeoff and landing performance, payload-range capacity, noise, emission, etc. The multidisciplinary analysis code consists of geometric, propulsion, weight, aerodynamics, performance, DOC and noise, emission modules.…”

“…Considering that this article focuses on conducting the competitiveness model of the commercial aircraft and the detailed multidisciplinary analysis and optimization model have been published in literature. 21,22 So, the methods used in each analysis module will be briefly introduced as follows.…”

“…27 The function of the performance module estimates payload-range capacity, mission fuel burned, takeoff field length, landing field length, the second segment gradient, etc. 21,28 The DOC module is used to predict the direct operating costs, which is determined mainly by block fuel, the weight of the aircraft, and the maximum thrust of the engine. 13 The effective perceived noise level (EPNL) at the noise certification points is calculated by noise module.…”

“…35 More details about the above modules are presented in literature. 21,22 All discipline modules are integrated into the multidisciplinary analysis model via a database, which archives all information on the commercial aircraft being designed, including aircraft geometry, propulsion, weight, aerodynamics, mission performance, field performance, DOC, noise, emission, etc.…”

Airplane Design Optimization for Minimal Global Warming Impact

“…These two cost functions are considered individually since it is assumed that NO x emissions in cruise are insignificant with respect to the emissions of CO 2 (and CO and SO 2 ) in cruise. A similar approach is taken by Henderson et al [8] and Chai et al [9]. Although the NO x emissions in LTO are of interest and ICAO regulations are imposed, this measure does not account for the effect of NO x at high altitudes due its influence on short-term ozone (O 3 ) creation and long-term methane (CH 4 ) and ozone depletion.…”