Evolutionary multidisciplinary shape design optimization" of a disruptive aircraft configuration with distributed propulsion: challenges for climate neutrality
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Distributed propulsion is used with small or medium-sized engines installed on the rear of the aircraft instead of centralized installed large engines. This disruptive configuration improves the propulsion efficiency by distributing exhaust and filling the velocity deficit due to the wake. It changes the layout of traditional aircraft with centralized installation thrust and alleviates also the high-performance requirements and difficulty to design large engines. This lecture surveys propulsion efficiency, aerodynamic characteristics, airframe and engine integration, structural weight, flight stability and control, the effect of boundary layer ingestion on fuel efficiency, and active control to reduce distortion of inlet flow, the mechanism for improving thrust and fuel efficiency. Based on the above analysis, the distribution criteria of the thrust, interference characteristics between jet and wake flow, design optimization methods considering the boundary layer ingestion as well as active flow control tools for improving the distortion of air flow at the inlet of the engine are introduced. Finally, in the context of climate neutrality and combining the distortion of micro engines, aerodynamic, structural dynamics and flight control, the multidisciplinary shape design optimization of a Blended Wing Body (BWB) aircraft with distributed propulsion is performed with evolutionary computing and results are presented and discussed.
