This paper reviews the environmental issues and challenges appropriate to the design of supersonic business jets (SSBJs). There has been a renewed, worldwide interest in developing an environmentally friendly, economically viable and technologically feasible supersonic transport aircraft. A historical overview indicates that the SSBJ will be the pioneer for the next generation of supersonic airliners. As a high-end product itself, the SSBJ will likely take a market share in the future. The mission profile appropriate to this vehicle is explored considering the rigorous environmental constraints. Mitigation of the sonic boom and improvements aerodynamic efficiency in flight are the most challenging features of civil supersonic transport. Technical issues and challenges associated with this type of aircraft are identified, and methodologies for the SSBJ design are discussed. Due to the tightly coupled issues, a multidisciplinary design, analysis and optimization environment is regarded as the essential approach to

This paper introduces a multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization (MDAO) environment called GENUS, which has been developing in Cranfield University's Aircraft Design Group. The GENUS aircraft design environment has the feature of modular, expandable, flexible, independent, sustainable, and performable. This paper discusses the application of this environment to supersonic business jets (SSBJs), which are regarded as the pioneer for the next generation of supersonic airliners. Methodologies appropriate to SSBJ are developed in the GENUS environment. Mach plane cross-sectional area is calculated based on the parametric geometry model. PANAIR is modified to do automated aerodynamic analysis. Drag coefficient is corrected by Harris wave drag calculation and form factor method. NASA EngineSim is integrated for engine modeling. Carlson simplified sonic boom prediction method has been used for sonic boom signature prediction. Results of the Cranfield E5 SSBJ are presented. Low-boom and low-drag SSBJ designs can be explored based on the framework.

This paper evaluates six supersonic business jet (SSBJ) concepts in a multidisciplinary design analysis optimisation (MDAO) environment in terms of their aerodynamics and sonic boom intensities. The aerodynamic analysis and sonic boom prediction are investigated by a number of conceptual-level numerical approaches. The panel method PANAIR is integrated to perform automated aerodynamic analysis. The drag coefficient is corrected by the Harris wave drag formula and form factor method. For sonic boom prediction, the near-field pressure is predicted through the Whitham F-function method. The F-function is decomposed to the F-function due to volume and the F-function due to lift to investigate the separate effect on sonic boom. The propagation method for the near-field signature in a stratified windy atmosphere is the waveform parameter method. In this research, using the methods described and publically available data on the concepts, the supersonic drag elements and sonic boom signature due to volume distribution and lift distribution are analysed. Based on the analysis, low-boom and low-drag design principles are identified.

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This paper introduces a multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization environment called GENUS. The GENUS aircraft design environment's key features are that it is modular, expandable, flexible, independent, and sustainable. This paper discusses the application of this environment to the design of supersonic business jets (SSBJs). SSBJs are regarded as the pioneers of the next generation of supersonic airliners. Methodologies appropriate to SSBJs are developed in the GENUS environment. The Mach plane cross-sectional area is calculated based on the parametric geometry model. PANAIR is integrated to perform automated aerodynamic analysis. The drag coefficient is corrected by the Harris wave drag calculation and form factor method. The sonic boom intensity is predicted by the wave form parameter method, which is validated by PCBoom. The Cranfield E-5 SSBJ is chosen as a baseline configuration. Low-boom and low-drag optimization are carried out based on this configuration. Through the optimization, the sonic boom intensity is mitigated by 71.36% and the drag decreases by 20.65%.