Design-Informatics Approach for Intimate Configuration of Silent Supersonic Technology Demonstrator

摘要

Design informatics has been proposed as a method of achieving efficient design. Design informatics allows efficient exploration of the design space and implements conception support for innovative design concepts. In the present study, this approach was applied to the design of the full configuration of the silent supersonic technology demonstrator. The design-informatics approach involves two steps: optimization and data mining. As a first step, multidisciplinary design optimization with multiple objectives was performed considering aerodynamics, stability, structures, aeroelasticity, and boom noise using an evolutionary algorithm. As a second step, data mining was carried out using a self-organizing map and an analysis of variance to extract design knowledge from the acquired optimization results for determining a conclusive compromise solution. Although the optimization had insufficient convergence due to the constraints of time and computational cost, the data mining brought important design information. Since the design space was consequently clarified, a compromise solution was successfully determined. Thus, design informatics is essential to an efficient design process.