Parametric 3D Modeling for Integration of Aircraft Systems in Conceptual Design

In the conceptual design of an aircraft, the definition of the system architecture is often very vague as the choice of technologies is yet to be decided. However, sufficient space needs to be allocated in the aircraft to host... [ view full abstract ]

In the conceptual design of an aircraft, the definition of the system architecture is often very vague as the choice of technologies is yet to be decided. However, sufficient space needs to be allocated in the aircraft to host all aircraft systems and to ensure other aspects of the design are considered, such as access for maintenance, initial distribution of thermal loads, allocation of redundancies, noise effects and critical zones (e.g. areas vulnerable to rotor-burst impact). In addition, in the context of multi-disciplinary design optimization of the aircraft, including economic and environmental aspects, the consideration of the systems impact as early as possible is crucial. The available space and its shape for systems (components and installation) may differ significantly from known designs, especially if unconventional aircraft configurations are investigated. In order to cope with this need, parametric tools for the estimation of major system characteristics such as weight, space envelope, power demand, reliability and cost for conceptual design are developed in Bombardier Aerospace’s Advanced Design Department.

This paper covers a method to rapidly establish a 3D system architecture. A 3D visualization of the majority of system components is crucial to develop a so-called conceptual physical architecture, to validate the aircraft configuration very early in the development. A parametric tool within the CATIA V5 environment was developed to model aircraft systems and to position them automatically within designated aircraft zones according to a set of pre-defined rules based on Bombardier design practices. All aircraft systems (such as avionics, flight controls, hydraulics etc.) are represented in the tool by simplified shapes (boxes, cylinders, tubes…). The dimensions of the main components are estimated based on aircraft design parameters (e.g. flight control actuators dimensions are linked to the size of the control surface and the aircraft speed). According to a certain system architecture and the pre-sized systems components, the tool models, positions and connects these components. The designer then checks the overall integration of the components to verify that there are no physical interferences between different systems or other aircraft components such as structures or skin. The tool was validated by applying it on several existing aircraft and comparing the results with the actual locations of parts. The parameterization and the automation of the initial positioning of the system components reduced significantly the time to develop a system architecture layout.

The presented tool brings two major benefits to the conceptual aircraft design: it enables set-based design through reduced cycle time to build architectures, and it increases the maturity of the aircraft configuration through visualization and early development of the physical system architecture.