Multidisciplinary, Multi-Point optimization of aircraft propellers, including Aero-Acoustic and Structural Constraints
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The design of highly efficient propellers is a primary driver for the viability of emerging electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, specifically within the sectors of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). While high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides significant insight, its prohibitive computational cost renders it impractical for the many-query analyses required in early-stage design optimization. This paper presents a multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) framework capable of tailoring propeller planforms across multiple flight conditions, including take-off, climb, and cruise. The methodology integrates a rapid aerodynamic solver based on a vortex filament method and Betz theory with a discrete-frequency aero-acoustic model to predict thickness and loading noise[1]. To ensure physical fidelity and design viability, the framework is enhanced by a structural deformation module. This module accounts for fluid-structure interaction (FSI), capturing the effects of aerodynamic and centrifugal loading on blade twist and bending. The propeller geometry is parameterized using B` ezier curves, allowing for a flexible design space within a gradient-based optimization environment. By simultaneously addressing aerodynamic efficiency, acoustic signatures, and structural aeroelasticity, the proposed approach provides a holistic tool for the development of next-generation propulsion sys- tems. The paper details the numerical formulation of the solvers, the integration of the multidisciplinary framework, and provides results from a representative test case demonstrating the trade-offs between performance and noise across a diverse mission profile.
