Automated creation of aeroelastic optimization models from a parameterized geometry

Efficient and automated conceptual aircraft design is a contemporary issue driven by potential cost savings and new unconventional developments [6]. This paper introduces the advantages of a parameterized geometry model combined with automated analysis model creation in one software tool. A parameterized geometry model provides the basis to perform design studies due to changes of engineering parameters, like span or chord length with rapid updates of geometry and analysis models. An automatically derived aeroelastic analysis model gives a good estimation of the properties of a particular design case and for a more realistic weight estimation an aeroelastic structural sizing optimisation can be performed with this model. The applicability of the developed software is not limited to the conceptual design phase. This program, called DescartesNDB (Numerical Design Board), has also been successfully used in a multidisciplinary shape optimization process [2]. This paper gives an overview, of how the central geometry model and the derived analysis models are created, and it will also give some examples of the promising possibilities, this approach is providing.