Development of an ICAD Generative Model for Blended Wing-Body Aircraft Design

Abstract

Aim of the EC sponsored project ‘Multidisciplinary Design and Optimization of Blended Wing-Bodies’ is the development and application of a fully integrated Computer Design Engine (CDE). TU Delft contributed to the project with the development of a Blended Wing-Body Multi-Model Generator, which is able to supply geometries and data to the analysis software, either COTS or tailor made, used by the various disciplinary groups in the project team (aerodynamics, structures, stability and control etc.). A full parametric definition of the aircraft has been implemented in the KTI ICAD environment. The ICAD Multi-Model Generator (or Generative Model) holds the ‘knowledge’ of the Blended Wing Body aircraft, such that consistent models can be generated, at different leve ls of fidelity, suitable for the various disciplines involved in the CDE. A large range of aircraft variants can be generated, just editing the values of the aircraft parameters, which are all collected in one single input file. The optimiser can change the parameters value within the optimisation loop, without the need for user interactive sessions. The generative model can be run in batch mode, even from remote sites.