Session: 37-03 Preliminary and structural design optimization

Paper Number: 103103

103103 - Cross Boundary Design Optimisation Using Simulation Process and Data Management 

Even at preliminary level, Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation (MDO) of a novel aircraft concept is a challenging prospect. There, the interaction between the airframe design and the propulsion design tasks is particularly strong and can simultaneously be a weak link if not dealt with adequately. In the particular case of civil aviation, the constraints around sharing of data and tools (i.e. intellectual property) across organisational boundaries usually preclude an effective communication between these the airframer and propulsor supplier. As such, the design of the airframe and propulsion system are usually done in isolation with occasional transfers of limited amounts of data, often leading to suboptimal results due to sequential subsystem optimisation having effectively taken place rather than an overall system integrated optimisation.

In the present work, the Simulation Process and Data Management (SPDM) paradigm is employed to explore the benefits of automated encapsulation, transfer and ultimately storage of data during the design exploration process of an aircraft concept while ensuring compatibility of attributes between airframe design and engine design disciplines at each iteration (i.e. fully converged airframe-propulsor iterates, where the propulsion system provides exactly the thrust the airframe requires and the latter is fully aware of the flight envelope it is required to operate within).

At Rolls-Royce, the Engine Preliminary Design System (EPDS) is the software used to undertake the task of jointly exploring new aircraft system concepts when linked with counterpart tools used by a 3^rd party airframer. In this work, the role of a surrogate airframer and airframe design toolset has been taken up by Cranfield University and the AirCADia framework, respectively. Using these two pieces of software, running on separate machines, across different networks, and connected via an SPDM-enabled API (Application Programming Interface), it is demonstrated how a collaborative, cross-boundary optimisation process can take place in an automatic fashion, thus enabling the search for a true system optimum. Based on the results obtained in a fictitious, but representative aircraft design problem use case, it is expected that this new architecture for orchestrating system level design tasks will become the norm in the industry.

Presenting Author: Akin Keskin Rolls-Royce

Presenting Author Biography: Akin holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Technical University of Berlin in Germany and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Cottbus University in Germany. He lectured Compressor Aerodynamics and High-Speed Aerodynamics in Berlin and Cottbus.

Akin joined Rolls-Royce Deutschland in 2001 as a CFD Methods Development Engineer and continued his career as a Compressor Aerodynamicist before moving to the UK and leading multiple high profile simulation and modelling capability development projects on improved component lifing, CFD modelling, thermo-mechanical and structural modelling.
Akin has been appointed to an Engineering Associate Fellow in Design Systems and Methodologies in 2015 and is currently Vice President Digital in Business Aviation within the Rolls-Royce Group. He has extensive experience in leading and contributing to German, UK and European funded research projects.
Akin is an active member of the AIAA and ASME with more than 30+ publications, is regular keynote speaker and panelist at various international conferences and workshops, Chair of the IGTI Executive Committee and the member of the ATI Specialist Advisory Group.

Authors:

Ken Malton Rolls-Royce plc.
Ricardo Paiva Rolls-Royce plc.
Akin Keskin Rolls-Royce
Atif Riaz Cranfield University
Christos Mourouzidis Cranfield University