Gordon Robinson PDF

Design Methods and Tools for Light Aircraft
A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design


What is the optimum taper ratio?
λ ≈ ???

For ease of manufacture
λ ≈ 1.0?

For minimum wing weight
λ ≈ 0.2?

For benign stall characteristics
ηsep ≈ 0.4
ηsep≈(1-λ)

For benign stall characteristics
λ ≈ 0.6?

For minimum vortex drag
λ ≈ 0.4?

Other factors?
•twist
•t/c
•sweep

So what is the optimum taper ratio?
λ ≈ ??

To deal with such issues we need:
• Judgement and intuition.

• Conceptual design tools.

Commercial
conceptual design
tools

Homebrew spreadsheet models?

Homebrew spreadsheet models?

Why build your own?
• You have absolute control.

• You choose the methods.
• You can calibrate it to the problem.
• You learn about the design.
• They can be very accurate.
• They can be very powerful.

Building your own

models

Input data

Fuselage geometry

Fuselage geometry – X section

Fuselage geometry – X sections

Fuselage Geometry

Fuselage geometry -apertures

Mission data

Range-payload data

Range-payload data

Design variables



Typical high-level design variables

Sources of
information







Model components

Performance model components

• Weights & c.g.
• Propulsion.
• Lift.
• Drag.
• Take-off performance.
• Cruise performance.


• Landing performance.
• Static stability & control.
• Dynamic stability.
• Production cost.
• Direct operating cost.
• Etc. etc.


• Weights and c.g.
• Propulsion.
• Lift.
• Drag.
• Take-off performance
• Cruise performance.

Weight models

To be useful the methods used in

the model should be:
• Appropriate.
• Design sensitive.
• Consistent.
• Calibrated.
• Verified.

Weight models -Appropriate?
Ww = 219 kg
Ww = 928 kg

Weight models - Appropriate?
Ww = 219 kg
Factor of 4!!!
Ww = 928 kg

Weight models - Appropriate?
Ww = 219 kg
Factor of 4!!!
Ww = 928 kg

Weight models - Design sensitive?

Weight models – Consistent?
Should the autopilot servos

have been included here?

Weight models – Consistent?
... or here?

Weight models – Calibrated?
Composite “fudge factors”
Wing structure 0.88
Empennage structure 0.86
Fuselage structure 0.92

Weight models – Verified?

• Good geometric and performance data for

DHC-6 available from AIAA case study.
• Complete weight breakdown by systems.


Weight methods
• Public domain weight estimates.
Wing - Denis Howe’s synthesis method.
Fuselage – Torenbeek, Appendix D
Rest - mostly from Torenbeek.
• No fiddle factors!


An example

Spreadsheet model of GROB Spn


• New generation turbofan.
• Composite.
• Reasonably good data available from
brochures and RAeS presentation.


Input data
• Fuselage sections.
• Wing planform.
• Max payload.
• Full fuel range, speed, altitude and payload.

Grob Spn fuselage

Grob Spn range-payload

Range-payload data
Max payload = 2490 lbs
Max fuel payload = 1400 lbs

Max fuel mission = 1700 nm
Flown at 41kft and Mach 0.7
Single 200lb pilot. Reserves for 100 nm diversion


Analysis methods
• All methods public domain.
• Weights methods same as Twin Otter, but
adjusted by composite factors.
• Williams FJ44-3AP engine deck.


Brochure Spreadsheet
MTOW 13,889 13,635
Flapped stall speed 75 KEAS 76 KEAS
AEO rate of climb @MTOW 4,360 fpm 4,406 fpm
OEI rate of climb @MTOW 1,360 fpm 1,504 fpm
Balanced field length 3,000 ft 2,954 ft
Landing distance 2,670 ft 2,509 ft
Fuel burn (max fuel mission + reserves) 685 US Gal. 681 US Gal.
Static margin ? 6%
Production cost $? m $5.5 m

Model refinements

Model refinements
• Graphing.
• Macros & Visual Basic routines.
• Dynamic link libraries.

Graphing

Graphing examples
US Airfield access with engine option: A

Graphing examples
US Airfield access with engine option: B

Graphing examples
Spin recovery analysis

Scanned plot applied
as background image

Graphing examples
Spin recovery analysis

Scanned plot applied
as background image

Visual Basic routines

Visual Basic routines

Dynamic link libraries.

• Allow direct calls to external software.
(e.g. Engine decks)

Optimisation

Optimisation
• Optimisation using Excel’s intrinsic tools:
Goalseek
Solver
• 3rd party optimisation add-ins
(genetic algorithms, simulated
annealing, CONMIN etc.)
• True multi-disciplinary optimisation!

Some demonstrations .....


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Design Methods and Tools for Light Aircraft

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

To deal with such issues we need:

• Judgement and intuition.

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

Homebrew spreadsheet models?

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

Homebrew spreadsheet models?

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

Why build your own?

• You have absolute control.

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

Building your own

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

Fuselage geometry – X section

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

Fuselage geometry – X sections

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

Fuselage geometry -apertures

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

Typical high-level design variables

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

Performance model components

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

Performance model components

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

Performance model components

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

To be useful the methods used in

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

Weight models -Appropriate?

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

Weight models - Appropriate?

A spreadsheet approach to aircraft design

Weight models - Appropriate?