Concept for an aircraft preliminary design tool with flight mechanical evaluation capability (TUBCADO)

Currently used semi-empirical methods in preliminary aircraft design are no longer accurate enough for the flight mechanics assessment of aircraft with novel wing and control surface concepts. Effects of parameter variations in the design on flight performance, flight characteristics, loads and system masses cannot be sufficiently investigated. Therefore, high-fidelity design and evaluation methods are needed for the preliminary design phase.

FMRA develops in the project TUBCADO a "concept for a preliminary design tool with flight-mechanical evaluation capability", which will contribute to the development of new aircraft designs with the university partners in the UNICADO (University Conceptual Aircraft Design and Optimization) network. The aim of FMRA in TUBCADO is to develop modules that can be used for the flight mechanical design and evaluation of wing and empennage concepts. These modules shall be integrated into the aircraft preliminary design environment UNICADO, shown in Figure 1.

For TUBCADO, FMRA develops the UNICADO modules: "Wing Design" and "Empennage Sizing". The module for component design (wing and tail) shall be developed in such a way that dimensioning variables result from relevant CS-25 criteria regarding flight property requirements (static and dynamic stability, controllability, etc.) and flight performance requirements (take-off, landing, etc.).

• Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH)
• Technische Universität Berlin (TUB) (Fachgebiet LB)
• Technische Universität Carolo-Wilhelmina zu Braunschweig (TUBS)
• Technische Universität Hamburg (TUHH)
• Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Universität Stuttgart (UniS)

Laufzeit: 05/2020 – 05/2022            

LuFo VI-1