Although the overall appearance of modern airliners has notchanged a lot since the introduction of jetliners in the 1950s,their safety, efficiency and environmental friendliness haveimproved considerably. Main contributors to this have been gasturbine engine technology, advanced materials, computationalaerodynamics, advanced structural analysis and on–board systems.Since aircraft design became a highly multidisciplinary activity,the development of multidisciplinary optimization (MDO) has becomea popular new discipline. Despite this, the application of MDOduring the conceptual design phase is not yet widespread.

Advanced Aircraft Design: Conceptual Design, Analysis andOptimization of Subsonic Civil Airplanes presents aquasi–analytical optimization approach based on a concise set ofsizing equations. Objectives are aerodynamic efficiency, missionfuel, empty weight and maximum takeoff weight. Independent designvariables studied include design cruise altitude, wing area andspan and thrust or power loading. Principal features ofintegrated concepts such as the blended wing and body and highlynon–planar wings are also covered.

The quasi–analytical approach enables designers to compare theresults of high–fidelity MDO optimization with lower–fidelitymethods which need far less computational effort. Another advantageto this approach is that it can provide answers to whatif questions rapidly and with little computational cost.

Key features:

• Presents a new fundamental vision on conceptual airplane designoptimization
• Provides an overview of advanced technologies for propulsionand reducing aerodynamic drag
• Offers insight into the derivation of design sensitivityinformation
• Emphasizes design based on first principles
• Considers pros and cons of innovative configurations
• Reconsiders optimum cruise performance at transonic Machnumbers

Advanced Aircraft Design: Conceptual Design, Analysis andOptimization of Subsonic Civil Airplanes advances understandingof the initial optimization of civil airplanes and is a must–havereference for aerospace engineering students, applied researchers,aircraft design engineers and analysts.