Structural mass prediction in conceptual design of blended-wing-body aircraft

The Blended-Wing-Body (BWB) is an unconventional configuration of aircraft and considered as a potential configuration for future commercial aircraft. One of the difficulties in conceptual design of a BWB aircraft is structural mass prediction due to its unique structural feature. This paper presents a structural mass prediction method for conceptual design of BWB aircraft using a structure analysis and optimization method combined with empirical calibrations. The total BWB structural mass is divided into the ideal load-carrying structural mass, non-ideal mass, and secondary structural mass. Structural finite element analysis and optimization are used to predict the ideal primary structural mass, while the non-ideal mass and secondary structural mass are estimated by empirical methods. A BWB commercial aircraft is used to demonstrate the procedure of the BWB structural mass prediction method. The predicted mass of structural components of the BWB aircraft is presented, and the ratios of the structural component mass to the Maximum TakeOff Mass (MTOM) are discussed. It is found that the ratio of the fuselage mass to the MTOM for the BWB aircraft is much higher than that for a conventional commercial aircraft, and the ratio of the wing mass to the MTOM for the BWB aircraft is slightly lower than that for a conventional aircraft.