Design exploration and optimization of aerodynamics and radar cross section for a fighter aircraft

Taj Z. U. D., Bilal A., Awais M., Salamat S., Abbas M., Maqsood A.

AEROSPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, vol.133, 2023 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 133
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.ast.2023.108114
  • Journal Name: AEROSPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, Metadex, zbMATH, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus Affiliated: No

Abstract

The design for the conflicting requirements of low drag and low Radar Cross Section (RCS) causes difficulty in achieving an aerodynamically superior stealth aircraft. To cater the issue, a multidisciplinary design exploration and optimization framework is proposed. A shared parameterized aircraft geometry is used for high fidelity aero-stealth analysis using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Shooting and Bouncing Rays (SBR) techniques. A surrogate model using a machine learning approach involving Gaussian Process (GP) modelling is generated for efficient and rapid design space exploration. A gradientfree metaheuristic optimization scheme using multi-objective Genetic Algorithm (GA) is employed to minimize drag and RCS. The results show that the proposed framework provides a reliable environment for the multidisciplinary design exploration of an aerial vehicle.(c) 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.