Multi-fidelity analysis and reduced-order modeling of wing-body aerodynamics

The aerodynamic design benefits and configuration integration challenges of blended wing body (BWB) configurations over traditional tube-and-wing (TAW) designs have been thoroughly studied over the years. Research has shown that an intermediate approach, the lifting-center-body (LCB) configuration is optimal for regional and short-haul passenger aircraft, providing a significant aerodynamic benefit while reducing the integration complexity. This thesis aims to characterize the geometry and configuration aerodynamics of LCB aircraft across a range of wing-body blending. A variety of aerodynamic analysis methods are used to characterize the surface pressure and lift distributions and determine the sensitivity of various performance parameters to the degree of blending, and inform configuration design guidelines through these studies for aerodynamic design of LCB aircraft. It is postulated that spanload optimization strategies can provide significant reduction in induced drag for an LCB configuration over tube-and-wing configurations, and understanding the chordwise effects can further play an important role in the performance of these designs.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Aerospace Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Mahesh, Karthik

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ansell, Phillip J

• Aerodynamics
• Reduced Order Modeling
• Slender Body Theory
• Wing Theory
• Vortex Lattice Methods
• Vortex Panel Methods
• Panair
• Avl
• Lifting Line Theory

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Karthik Mahesh

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122027

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F122027