A Multidisciplinary Simulation Framework for Optimization of Rotorcraft Operations and Environmental Impact

Abstract

Rotorcraft mission performance analysis has always been an important topic for the rotorcraft industry. This topic is now raising even more interest as aspects related to gas emissions and noise gain more importance for environmental and social impact assessments. The present work illustrates a multidisciplinary analysis case where a selected helicopter maneuver is optimized in order to minimize the noise and exhaust gas emissions footprints under specific operational or environmental constraints. For this purpose, an integrated tool is being developed within the JTI Clean Sky Green Rotorcraft initiative that is capable of computing and optimizing flight paths against noise and gas emissions as well as assessing its environmental impact. This simulation framework tool is the result of a collaborative effort between LMS International (BE), National Aerospace Laboratory NLR (NL) and Cranfield University (UK). In order to simulate the characteristics of a specific trajectory, as well as to evaluate the gas emissions and noise that are produced during the rotorcraft’s operation, three computational models have been integrated into the simulation tool. These models consist of a rotorcraft flight mechanics tool (jointly developed in a European project), a rotorcraft environmental noise analysis tool (jointly developed in a European project), and an engine performance and emissions tool developed at NLR. The integrated process has been created in order for the three simulation tools to communicate with each other, and iteration loops have been added to account for fuel burn during the course of the mission. The multidisciplinary integrated process has been performed with the deployment of the OPTIMUS process and simulation integration framework developed by NOESIS Solutions, subsidiary of LMS International. The optimization processes carried out for the purpose of this work are based on OPTIMUS’ built-in optimization algorithms as well as on algorithms developed at NLR. A comparative evaluation between a baseline and the optimized trajectory’s results has been waged for the purpose of quantifying the operational profit (in terms of fuel required) gained by the helicopter’s operation within the path of an optimized trajectory under specific constraints. The application of the aforementioned methodology to a case study and the actual gain in terms of environmental impact, demonstrates the validity of this integration and optimization process for a class of rotorcraft missions, based on the simulation performed.