Aerodynamic analysis and optimization of a boxwing architecture for commercial airplanes

Carini, Marco; Méheut, Michaël; Kanellopoulos, Stylianos; Cipolla, Vittorio; Salem, Karim Abu

doi:10.2514/6.2020-1285

Cited by 17 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Due to the limitations of the potential aerodynamic solver, especially for the transonic conditions, a calibration of the boundaries of the design space and a proper tuning of the aerodynamic constraints (i.e. maximum values of local spanwise lift coefficient) may be useful for specific design studies, as has been done in [24], by using the information collected in transonic CFD campaigns [31,32].…”

Section: Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tools and methodologies for box-wing aircraft conceptual aerodynamic design and aeromechanic analysis

Salem

Palaia

Cipolla

et al. 2021

Mechanics & Industry

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A way to face the challenge of moving towards a new greener aviation is to exploit disruptive aircraft architectures; one of the most promising concept is the PrandtlPlane, a box-wing aircraft based on the Prandtl's studies on multiplane lifting systems. A box-wing designed accordingly the Prandtl “best wing system” minimizes the induced drag for given lift and span, and thus it has the potential to reduce fuel consumption and noxious emissions. For disruptive aerodynamic concepts, physic-based aerodynamic design is needed from the very early stages of the design process, because of the lack of available statistical data; this paper describes two different in-house developed aerodynamic design tools for the PrandtlPlane conceptual aerodynamic design: AEROSTATE, for the design of the box-wing lifting system in cruise condition, and THeLMA, aiming to define the layout of control surfaces and high lift devices. These two tools have been extensively used to explore the feasible space for the aerodynamic design of the box-wing architecture, aiming to define preliminary correlations between performance and design variables, and guidelines to properly initialize the design process. As a result, relevant correlations have been identified between the rear-front wing loading ratio and the performance in cruise condition, and for the rear-front flap deflections and the aeromechanic characteristics in low speed condition.

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Section: Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tools and methodologies for box-wing aircraft conceptual aerodynamic design and aeromechanic analysis

Salem

Palaia

Cipolla

et al. 2021

Mechanics & Industry

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“…The design methodology described in Section 2 was applied to the design case of a boxwing transport aircraft; in particular, the specific case of the PARSIFAL project [74,[87][88][89] is presented.…”

Section: Input Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

A Physics-Based Multidisciplinary Approach for the Preliminary Design and Performance Analysis of a Medium Range Aircraft with Box-Wing Architecture

et al. 2021

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The introduction of disruptive innovations in the transport aviation sector is becoming increasingly necessary. This is because there are many very demanding challenges that the transport aviation system will have to face in the years ahead. In particular, the reduction in pollutant emissions from air transport, and its impact on climate change, clearly must be addressed; moreover, sustainable solutions must be found to meet the constantly increasing demand for air traffic, and to reduce the problem of airport saturation at the same time. These three objectives seem to be in strong contrast with each other; in this paper, the introduction of a disruptive airframe configuration, called PrandtlPlane and based on a box-wing lifting system, is proposed as a solution to face these three challenges. This configuration is a more aerodynamically efficient alternative candidate to conventional aircraft, introducing benefits in terms of fuel consumption and providing the possibility to increase the payload without enlarging the overall aircraft wingspan. The development and analysis of this configuration, applied to a short-to-medium range transport aircraft, is carried out through a multi-fidelity physics-based approach. In particular, following an extensive design activity, the aerodynamic performance in different operating conditions is investigated in detail, the structural behaviour of the lifting system is assessed, and the operating missions of the aircraft are simulated. The same analysis methodologies are used to evaluate the performance of a benchmark aircraft with conventional architecture, with the aim of making direct comparisons with the box-wing aircraft and quantifying the performance differences between the two configurations. Namely, the CeRAS CSR-01, an open-access virtual representation of an A320-like aircraft, is selected as the conventional benchmark. Following such a comparative approach, the paper provides an assessment of the potential benefits of box-wing aircraft in terms of fuel consumption reduction and increase in payload capability. In particular, an increase in payload capability of 66% and a reduction in block fuel per pax km up to 22% is achieved for the PrandtlPlane with respect to the conventional benchmark, while maintaining the same maximum wingspan.

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“…The aircraft model used as the main application case for this paper is an unconventional, box-wing configuration referred to as the PrandtlPlane (PrP). The specific PrP used for this study is a 300 passenger, transonic, commercial transport aircraft, currently being designed within the scope of the PARSIFAL project [9,10], in the framework of the European Horizon 2020 research program. The box-wing has been known for a long time to be the "best wing system" for induced drag performance [11], and the PrP concept strives to integrate it in an innovative aircraft architecture for sustainable future aviation.…”

Section: Aircraft and Simulation Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trim for Maximum Control Authority using the Attainable Moment Set

Varriale

Veldhuis

Voskuijl

2020

AIAA Scitech 2020 Forum

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This paper presents a method to find trimmed flight conditions while maximizing the available control authority about one or more motion axes. Maximum pitch-up, or lift-up, control authority could find interesting application in aborted landing situations, while maximum balanced control authority about all motion axes is a reformulation of the classic concept of minimum control effort. The trim problem is formulated in the form of a constrained optimization problem. The constraints and the objective function are obtained by exploiting the geometric properties of the Attainable Moment Set, a convex polytope containing the forces and moments attainable by the aircraft control effectors. The method is applied to an innovative box-wing aircraft configuration called PrandtlPlane, whose double wing system can accommodate a large number of control surfaces, and hence allow Pure Torque and Direct Lift Control possibilities. Control surface deflections are compared for trim conditions with maximum control authority in the pitch axis, in the lift axis, and maximum balanced control authority, for symmetric and asymmetric flight. Results show that the method is able to capitalize on the angle of attack or the throttle setting to obtain the control surfaces deflections which maximize control authority in the assigned direction.

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Aerodynamic analysis and optimization of a boxwing architecture for commercial airplanes

Cited by 17 publications

References 10 publications

Tools and methodologies for box-wing aircraft conceptual aerodynamic design and aeromechanic analysis

Tools and methodologies for box-wing aircraft conceptual aerodynamic design and aeromechanic analysis

A Physics-Based Multidisciplinary Approach for the Preliminary Design and Performance Analysis of a Medium Range Aircraft with Box-Wing Architecture

Trim for Maximum Control Authority using the Attainable Moment Set

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