Simulation of asymmetric landing and typical ground maneuvers for large transport aircraft

It is important to determine static and dynamic ground loads for the aircraft ground maneuvers accurately in the design phase. Simulation of the important operational cases is a better way compared to the tests on real aircraft to investigate these loads at a reasonable cost. In this paper, the simulation of an asymmetric landing case and typical ground maneuvers for large transport aircraft is presented. The aircraft models are built in the multibody simulation tool SIMPACK. The tire model implemented in SIMPACK includes lateral dynamics of the tire. Cornering, braked runs and pushback are simulated as typical ground maneuvers. For simulation of braking, a simple but effective Antilock Braking System (ABS) algorithm is implemented. The article is based on the work done in cooperation between DLR and Airbus in the Flexible Aircraft 2 project.     

A lightning swept stroke model: A valuable tool to investigate the lightning strike to aircraft

In the context of lightning strike on the Dassault Falcon family of aircraft, the standard zoning of Falcon 50, 900 and 2000, inferred from FAA and EUROCAE WG31 documents [US Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Advisory Circular AC 20-53A, 1985; US Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Advisory Circular AC 20-53B, Draft, 1991; EUROCAE WG 31, Aircraft Lightning Zoning Standard, ED-91, 1998], has been presented. Zoning proves to be quite similar between the three types of aircraft. Thanks to the feed-back on lightning strikes to Falcon, lightning traces have been observed on the fuselage for different flight conditions and aircraft. Observations are compared with the zoning performed by Dassault. A physical model, developed by ONERA, was used to simulate the sweeping of lightning on the fuselage of a Falcon 900. The results are in good agreement with the lightning traces observed on the fuselages.     

Euler computation of the nearfield wake vortex of an aircraft in take-off configuration

Numerical simulations based on the three-dimensional Euler equations are used to investigate the predictive capability of an Euler code for calculations of the nearfield wake of a narrow-body airliner wind tunnel model in take-off configuration up to a half span behind the wing tip trailing edge. Simulation results on both structured and unstructured grids are presented. The results on the block-structured grid were obtained within the scope of the EU-project EUROWAKE. The simulation quality of the vortex formation and spatial development is analysed by comparison to wind tunnel measurements of the spanwise lift distribution available from the EU-project DUPRIN II and to experimental PIV data available from the EU-project EUROWAKE.     

Depeaking – economic optimization of air traffic systems

More than half of all flights in and out of Frankfurt International Airport are conducted by Lufthansa airlines, as it is one of their two major hubs. The so called hub and spokes systems allow airlines to bundle major passenger flows via connecting flights across the in- and outbound traffic. The reliability of these transfer connections, and specifically the arrival punctuality at the hub airports are crucial to the economics of the daily operation.Since Frankfurt International Airport has lately been one of the most congested airports in Europe, delays (in particular arrival delays) have increased quite significantly throughout the last years. To compensate for additional queueing time in the arrival processes, the scheduled block times inbound Frankfurt were continuously adjusted upwardly keeping the arrival punctuality (and thereby the connection reliability) close to stable. The two disadvantages of this approach have been the decrease in aircraft productivity and over-deliveries in peak hours, which in turn induce either additional block time delay or ground delay programs inbound Frankfurt.This paper introduces an iterative stochastic-simulation approach that models the vicious circle of lengthening block times and increased over-deliveries. In a second step it quantifies the operational and economical effects of depeaking the schedule and illustrates the overall growth potentials for the depeaked operation of the airport. The schedule was successfully implemented in Frankfurt in summer 2004.     

Improvement of forebody/inlet integration for hypersonic vehicle

Results of a numerical (CFD) study of the influence of the forebody shape on local flow parameters at a bottom-mounted inlet entrance are presented. The free-stream Mach number is assumed to be 3.5–7.0. Some recommendations on forebody shape optimization are provided. Main characteristics of the air inlet are evaluated.     

Flap contour optimization for highly integrated SERN nozzles

The performance of a Single Expansion Ramp Nozzle (SERN) for hypersonic cruise vehicles is examined with focus on the flow at the nozzle flap and the corresponding separation of the boundary layer. Two wind tunnel models are used to analyze the interaction of the free stream and the nozzle flow and the flow at the flap in detail. A finite element flow code is employed to support the design of the flap model and the analysis of the flow.Comparative contour studies show that the size and the location of the separation at the flap cowl and therefore the aerodynamic quality can be influenced by optimizing the flap cowl contour. The position of the separation is measured for different contours and varying Reynolds numbers at laminar, transitional and turbulent flow conditions. Numerical studies of a nozzle/afterbody configuration suggest an improvement of up to 3.5% in axial thrust for optimized flap contours in the examined Mach range between 1.64 and 6. At the same time the rotation of the thrust vector is reduced by up to 5° at lower Mach numbers.     

Fuel mass penalty due to generators and fuel cells as energy source of the all-electric aircraft

The paper presents the results of an assessment of the fuel mass penalty due to generators and fuel cell systems. Based on the simulation tool SysFuel, fuel mass penalties for different mission ranges and fuel cell architectures are calculated and compared to a conventional reference architecture. Different fuel cell architectures using ram air or cabin exhaust air and different options of energy recovery are considered. As a result of the studies, target values are presented for the mass to power ratio of fuel cell systems to achieve fuel mass reductions compared to conventional generator and auxiliary power unit systems.     

A rendezvous navigation algorithm for orbit determination, based on visual measurements by space vehicle crew members

At present, various radio navigation systems are employed during the automated approach of a transport vehicle to a space station. Experience has shown that emergency situations can occur in which it is necessary to revert to manual override of the automatic approach.Such situations have indeed occurred during flight operations of the space station Mir. The crews of the transport vehicles and the Mir used manual steering more than 30 times for successful docking, and four times for approach to the station.Successful manual steering demands absolute understanding of the relative orbit parameters. The decisive task of the crew is to determine these relative parameters. This is possible using visual observations from either the transport vehicle or the station using simple and reliable instruments. This article explains the algorithm for determining the relative orbits from visual crew observations, based on similarities of relative orbit families.     

Calculation of the transonic dip of airfoils using viscous-inviscid aerodynamic interaction method

A numerical procedure for the calculation of the transonic dip of airfoils in the time domain is presented. A viscous-inviscid aerodynamic interaction method is taken to calculate the unsteady aerodynamic loads. In the present case the integral boundary layer equations are coupled with the Transonic Small Disturbance (TSD) Potential Equation. The coupling between structural motion and aerodynamic loads is carried out using State Space equation. It is solved by State Transition Matrix technique. Results are presented for NACA 64A010 and NLR 7301 airfoils with structural data from Isogai and DLR, respectively. Comparisons show good agreement with other numerical results. Certain deviations of experimental data taken from literature need more insight in the detailed test conditions.     

Assessment of the suitability of public mobile data networks for aircraft telemetry and control purposes

This paper provides a review of the state of the art of relevant work on the use of public mobile data networks for aircraft telemetry and control proposes. Moreover, it describes the characterisation for airborne uses of the public mobile data communication systems known broadly as 3G. The motivation for this study was to explore how this mature public communication systems could be used for aviation purposes. An experimental system was fitted to a light aircraft to record communication latency, line speed, RF level, packet loss and cell tower identifier. Communications was established using internet protocols and connection was made to a local server. The aircraft was flown in both remote and populous areas at altitudes up to 8500 ft in a region located in South East Queensland, Australia. Results show that the average airborne RF levels are better than those on the ground by 21% and in the order of −77 dbm. Latencies were in the order of 500 ms (1/2 the latency of Iridium), an average download speed of 0.48 Mb/s, average uplink speed of 0.85 Mb/s, a packet of information loss of 6.5%. The maximum communication range was also observed to be 70 km from a single cell station. The paper also describes possible limitations and utility of using such communications architecture for both manned and unmanned aircraft systems.     

Modelling and design of wing tip devices at various flight conditions using a databased aerodynamic prediction tool

A design study of wing tip devices at high and low speeds is described. The basis of the design study is an equivalent drag approach containing both aerodynamic drag gain and structural weight penalty. A comprehensive parameter study is carried out using a rapid aerodynamic prediction tool named Lift and Drag Component Analysis (LIDCA). Adding to an available lifting-line method a databased module for airfoil data is employed that uses results of two-dimensional flow simulations by multidimensional interpolation. Detailed validation studies of the method at high lift and high speed have demonstrated good accuracy. RANS computations of the selected wing tip designs confirm the predicted benefits at cruise condition. The results of the most effective wing tip designs are analysed at both flight conditions. Finally, options for improving the performance at take-off are suggested.     

Optimal control in the east/west station-keeping manoeuvres for geostationary satellites

This paper addresses the optimal computation in terms of fuel consumption of the sequentially required tangential correction manoeuvres to control geostationary satellites within the longitude band. In fact, by using optimal control techniques, the Sun pointing perigee strategy (which only determines the best time of the day for the tangential manoeuvres) is formulated as a nonlinear programming problem with inequality constraints so that the proposed approach provides an optimal way to determine the remaining parameters for the station keeping, i.e., the time interval between successive corrections and the value for the eccentricity control to totally optimize the computation. Furthermore, by minimizing a cost function derived for the total manoeuvres sizes required in a year, a numerical simulation is performed to illustrate this approach. The computation shows how geostationary mission lifetimes may be extended up to half a year or more.

Resumen

En este papel se trata el cálculo óptimo en términos de consumo de fuel de las maniobras tangenciales periódicas necesarias para controlar satélites geoestacionarios dentro de la banda en longitud. En concreto, utilizando técnicas de control optimal, la estrategia perigeo hacia el Sol (que solo determina la mejor hora del día para las maniobras tangenciales) se formula como un problema de programación no lineal con constreñimientos, de tal forma que el tratamiento propuesto proporciona una forma óptima de determinar los parámetros restantes para el mantenimiento en estación, esto es, el intervalo de tiempo entre dos correciones sucesivas y el valor para el control de excentricidad para optimizar totalmente el cálculo. Además, mediante la minimización de una función de coste obtenida para todas las maniobras necesarias en un año, se realiza una simulación numérica para ilustrar esta metodología. Los cálculos muestran cómo se puede extender el tiempo de vida de una misión geostacionaria hasta medio año o más.     

Simulation of streamwise vortices at the flaps of re-entry vehicles

The present study investigates separated flows in the flap region of the X-38 re-entry demonstrator with respect to the heat loads downstream reattachment induced by streamwise vortices. In a first step generic numerical flow simulations of turbulent ramp configurations with artificially induced vortex disturbances are compared with wind tunnel data of the Ludwieg tube facility in Göttingen (RWG). The results allow insight into the perturbed flow field, the associated flow topology and the influence of different flow parameters that affect the perturbations. For numerical resolution of streamwise vortices in the boundary layer of re-entry vehicles local grids are generated around the flaps of the X-38 vehicle. Extensive studies of arranging and refining the local grids demonstrate good grid convergence. For laminar cases and cases with fixed transition vortex effects on the heat transfer are observed with and without artificial vortex excitation.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel der vorgelegten Studie ist die Untersuchung abgelöster Strömungen im Klappenbereich des X-38 Wiedereintrittsdemonstrators hinsichtlich der durch Längswirbel entstehenden thermischen Belastungen stromab der Anlegelinie. Im ersten Schritt werden turbulente generische Rampenkonfiguratiorien mit künstlich induzierten Wirbelstörungen mit Windkanaldaten des Ludwierohrkanals in Göttingen (RWG) verglichen. Die Ergebnisse erlauben einen Einblick in die Störströmung, der zugehörige Strömungstopologie und der Einflüsse verschiedener Parametervariationen auf die Störströmung. Zur numerischen Auflösung der Längswirbel in der Grenzschicht von Wiedereintrittsvehikeln wurden lokale Netze um die X-38 Klappen generiert. Ausführliche numerische Studien nach Umordnung und Verfeinerung der lokalen Netze zeigen eine gute Netzkonvergenz der Ergebnisse. In laminaren Fällen und solchen mit fester Transition wurden Wirbeleinflüsse auf den Wärmestrom mit und ohne künstliche Wirbelanregung beobachtet.     

The AWIATOR airborne LIDAR turbulence sensor

The development and first flight tests are described of a short pulse direct measuring UV LIDAR for the measurement of gusts, turbulence and potentially wake vortices. The results of these stage 1 tests confirm that relative wind velocities can be measured with a standard deviation of below 10 m/s even at high altitudes with no appreciable aerosol concentrations. Operating the system under various flight conditions including rain, dense clouds, and clear air up to 24,000 ft was highly successful. Means to push the standard deviation below 1.6 m/s, foremost by increasing the laser output power and the efficiency of the light collecting system, are identified and quantified. Questions of instrument stability are addressed.     

Critical wake vortex encounter scenarios

A simulation-based method was developed to investigate the severity of Wake Vortex Encounters (WVEs). This paper describes an important part of this method: the determination of worst-case WVE conditions, which is referred to as Worst-Case Search (WCS). The WCS results permit to reduce time and costs of WVE severity related piloted simulator tests and allow the comparison of the hazard that vortices of different generator aircraft exert on a follower aircraft.The WCS is based on a high fidelity, offline simulation of the follower aircraft that includes the interacting wake vortex, a hazard criterion that rates the severity of each WVE, and a pilot model. It can be formulated as an optimisation problem that is solved with the optimisation tool MOPS (Multi Objective Parameter Synthesis). MOPS varies the encounter geometry until the simulation yields maximum values of the WVE hazard criterion.Worst-case encounter conditions for different parameters were investigated and sensitivity studies performed. The influence of the height above ground, the core radius, and the models for the wake vortex velocity profiles on the severity of a WVE was examined. To show the capability of the method, a comparison of the severity of a WVE behind two different heavy transport aircraft for a 20 t aircraft was made. The WCS method demonstrated its applicability and delivered the worst-case encounter geometry.

Zusammenfassung

Zur Untersuchung der Heftigkeit von Wirbelschleppen wurde eine simulationsbasierte Methode entwickelt. Dieser Beitrag beschreibt einen wichtigen Bestandteil dieser Methode: die Bestimmung der ungünstigsten (worst case) Einflugbedingungen in die Wirbelschleppe. Die Kenntnis dieser Bedingungen gestattet eine Zeit- und Kostenreduzierung bei wirbelschleppenbezogenen Simulatorversuchen mit Piloten und ermöglicht gleichzeitig einen Vergleich der vom Wirbel ausgehgehenden Gefährdung für verschiedene Kombinationen voraus- und einfliegender Flugzeuge.Die Worst-Case-Bedingungen werden mit einer Offline-Simulation des Folgeflugzeugs bestimmt, die Modelle für die Wechselwirkung mit der Wirbelschleppe und für das Pilotenverhalten sowie Kriterien für die Gefährdung durch den Wirbel umfasst. Für die Steuerung der Simulation und die Worst-Case-Suche wird die Optimierungssoftware MOPS (Multi Objective Parameter Synthesis) verwendet. MOPS variiert die Geometrie des Wirbelschleppendurchflugs bis die Simulation die maximalen Kriterienwerte für die Gefährdung durch den Wirbel liefert.Die Worst-Case-Bedingungen wurden für unterschiedliche Parameter untersucht. Der Einfluss der Höhe über Grund, des Kernradius' und der unterschiedlichen Modelle für das Wirbelgeschwindigkeitsprofil auf die von den Wirbelschleppen ausgehenden Gefährdung wurde dabei ermittelt. Um die Leistungsfähigkeit der Methode zu demonstrieren, wurde die Gefährdung von Wirbelschleppen zweier generierender Flugzeuge (heavy class) auf ein nachfolgendes 20 t Transportflugzeug verglichen. Die Anwendbarkeit der Methode wurde bestätigt und die ungünstigsten Einflugbedingungen berechnet.     

高性能螺旋桨优化设计

无人多旋翼飞行器使用的桨叶以固定翼螺旋桨为主,但其气动环境与固定翼不尽相同。使用逆向重构技术对原始桨叶进行参数化建模,并基于CFD数值计算技术对参数化基准模型的扭转角分布规律和叶型积叠方式在垂直飞行状态下进行优化设计。结果表明:在功率允许范围内,桨叶在悬停状态下的效率有了较大提升。     

Close relative motion on distant retrograde orbits

Distant Retrograde Orbits (DROs) in the Earth-Moon system have great potential to support varieties of missions due to the favorable stability and orbital positions. Thus, the close relative motion on DROs should be analyzed to design formations to assist or extend the DRO missions. However, as the reference DROs are obtained through numerical methods, the close relative motions on DROs are non-analytical, which severely limits the design of relative trajectories. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed to construct the analytical solution of bounded close relative motion on DROs. The linear dynamics of relative motion on DRO is established at first. The preliminary forms of the general solutions are obtained based on the Floquet theory. And the general solutions are classified as different modes depending on their periodic components. A new parameterization is applied to each mode, which allows us to explore the geometries of quasi-periodic modes in detail. In each mode, the solutions are integrated as a uniform expression and their periodic components are expanded as truncated Fourier series. In this way, the analytical bounded relative motion on DRO is obtained. Based on the analytical expression, the characteristics of different modes are comprehensively analyzed. The natural periodic mode is always located on the single side of the target spacecraft on DRO and is appropriate to be the parking orbits of the rendezvous and docking. On the basis of quasi-periodic modes, quasi-elliptical fly-around relative trajectories are designed with the assistance of only two impulses per period. The fly-around formation can support observations to targets on DRO from multiple viewing angles. And the fly-around formation is validated in a more practical ephemeris model.     

基于Arinc661的显控系统设计与实现

Arinc 661标准是航空电子座舱显示系统方面的接口标准.本文首先对Arinc 661标准的核心内容、概念进行了介绍,然后对实现Arinc 661标准所依赖的关键技术进行了研究,并在此基础上给出了一个采用Arinc 661标准的应用开发示例,最后对Arinc 661标准的研究和应用现状进行了总结.