AbstractsEngineering

Robust Coupled Optimization of Aircraft Family Design and Fleet Allocation for Multiple Markets

by Peter Jansen




Institution: Royal Military College of Canada
Department: Aeronautical Engineering/G??nie a??ronautique
Degree: PhD
Year: 2015
Keywords: aircraft families; sustainable aviation; optimization under uncertainty; fleet allocation; aircraft conceptual design
Record ID: 2061570
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/11264/562


Abstract

Increasing air traffic demand and the resulting climate impact of aircraft are of growing public concern. The requirements for new commercial aircraft can differ significantly for different markets and operators. The design of new aircraft takes into account different markets and operational requirements; the design process is only loosely coupled with the use of these aircraft by operators around the world. The economic and environmental sustainability of commercial aviation requires not only the design of efficient new aircraft, but also closer consideration of the operations and flexibility of these aircraft during the design stage. This can be achieved by coupling the design optimization of multiple aircraft families with the simultaneous allocation of these aircraft in multiple markets. Including operational assignment of aircraft in the design stage can reduce operational inefficiencies, while the design of an aircraft family aims at reducing cost through the use of common components. In order to thoroughly investigate the trade-offs involved in designing efficient, environmentally sustainable aircraft, a coupled robust design optimization involving uncertainties in passenger demand over multiple years of operations was conducted. Results obtained show that the coupled design of aircraft families with the allocation of these aircraft to two distinct markets can significantly reduce fuel burn, operating and acquisition costs compared to existing aircraft. The optimized aircraft also provide higher flexibility and improved performance when compared against aircraft obtained from a robust design optimization approach, where each aircraft is optimized decoupled from the fleet allocation. L'augmentation de la circulation a??rienne et son impacte sur l'environnement sont une pr??occupation croissante du publique. Les crit??res de conceptions de nouveaux appareils commerciaux varient grandement selon le march?? et l'op??ration. La conception de nouveaux appareils tient compte des march??s et des besoins op??rationnels mais le processus de design n'est que faiblement coupl?? aux emploies de ces appareils par les exploitants d'a??ronefs ?? travers le monde. La durabilit?? ??conomique et environnemental de l'aviation commerciale exige non seulement un appareil ??conome mais aussi une plus importante consid??ration de comment ses appareils sont utilis??s lors de la conception. Pour parvenir ?? ceci on doit coupler la conception des familles d'avions aux affectations des appareils dans divers march??s. Inclure l'affectation dans le processus de design peut r??duire les inefficiences op??rationnelles, alors que la conception de famille d'appareils ?? pour but de r??duire les couts en utilisant de assemblages communs. Pour ??tudier ?? fond les compromis requis lors d'une conception d'appareils ??conomiquement et environnementalement durable, une optimisation robuste et totalement coupl??e utilisant des incertitudes de la demande passag??re sur plusieurs ann??es d'op??rations fut r??alis??e. Les r??sultats d??montrent que…