Continuous Parametrisation of Wing Movable Layout for Design Optimisation

In line with recent advancements in aviation, which lead to more fuel-efficient aircraft, this paper presents a novel continuous movable parameterisation methodology. The methodology takes advantage of the ability of the doublet lattice method (DLM) to describe aerodynamic forces using downwash. The movables are described in the continuous space using a downwash distribution generated using a B-spline surface. To demonstrate and assess the movable modelling methodology, the U-HARWARD aircraft model has been used, with the performance of the continuous parameterisation compared to a reference movable parameterisation for roll control, manoeuvre load alleviation and cruise performance. The results show that the continuous parameterisation can determine a downwash distribution that is at least equal in performance – during roll – or has better performance – for manoeuvre load alleviation and cruise performance – than the reference parameterisation. The continuous parameterisation showed a 3 percentage points improvement with respect to the reference parameterisation for manoeuvre load alleviation and a 2.4 percentage points improvement for the induced drag coefficient. The results in the paper demonstrated the successful application of a movable parameterisation methodology, which can be applied to an aircraft for which only the planform and initial structural parameters are known.