A Novel Airframe Design Methodology For Silent Aircraft

Abstract

The impact of noise on civil aviation is not just a localised airport problem, but a global concern, due to the ever-increasing demands for passenger travel. The challenge of designing a ‘Silent Aircraft’ lies within the development, integration, and optimisation of efficient airframe-engine technologies. This research study investigates the design of novel airframes with the aim of producing a methodology that incorporates airframe noise. Studies investigating the design of Broad Deltas (BD), Blended Wing Bodies (BWB), and Joined Wing airframe configurations are integrated with innovative propulsion systems designs to identify key parameters in order to design a Silent Aircraft. The airframe configuration plays an important role in the total aircraft noise, where the novel airframes that are analysed, are compared to a datum ‘baseline’ aircraft. All novel configurations show significant improvements in airframe noise reduction, enhanced by the addition of ultra-efficient propulsion systems, for which integration studies are discussed. The research into novel airframes uses a developed design methodology which integrates design considerations such as aerodynamics, performance, and cost models to complement the noise analysis and identify the most silent airframe configuration. The research goal was to identify a silent airframe solution for a future viable short-medium range airliner, where the final solutions described suggest proposals for the future development of aviation. The proposals suggested describe a short-term solution to the noise challenge, with a longer-term solution to aid the development of technologies, maturity in technology release levels (TRLs), and development of a future 2050 medium capacity civil airliner.