Robust Analysis and Optimisation Process for Virtual Flight Simulation of Very-flexible Aircraft

飞机设计要经过一系列的成熟度检验。在概念设计阶段，主要目标是提出一个满足设想飞机要求的试验性工程方案，该方案具有适应不可预见的环境和经济力量的约束的能力。帮助实现概念设计的方法主要是分析性和半经验性的，它们的应用受到强有力的基本假设的限制。虽然在设计过程的早期阶段一直在努力引入基于物理的方法[1]，但在空气动力学性能和重量以及平衡预测方面存在固有的不确定性来源，需要加以考虑。因此，本研究项目提出的核心问题是：我们能否为高度灵活的空中平台开发一个强大的分析和优化过程，并通过在固定基座飞行模拟器上进行测试来评估虚拟飞机的性能？博士项目围绕三个技术目标。第一个是与强大的分析和优化使用开源软件工具以及内部代码已经在两个主办组织的计算框架的发展。第二个目标涉及处理重量和平衡估算中的不确定性的能力，以及管理这种不确定性对飞机设计的多方面影响的能力。第三个目标涉及到飞行控制系统的发展，该系统考虑到在几个离散传感器位置处的感兴趣量的噪声测量，测量质量取决于所使用的传感器的类型。无人驾驶飞行器的设计将通过位于南安普顿大学的固定基座飞行模拟器上的虚拟测试来辅助。拟议的博士课程将在英国南安普顿大学和ONERA -法国航空航天实验室之间的分点协议中完成。成功的申请人具有良好的物理学，工程学或应用数学背景。编程经验是必不可少的。一个完整的三年制学生奖学金仅适用于英国/欧盟学生。津贴为EPSRC标准水平。[1]Franciolini M，Da Ronch A，Drofelnik J，Raveh D和Crivellini A，“用于定常和非定常可压缩流的高效无限后掠机翼求解器”，航天科学与技术，2017; 72：217- 229。博士课程将在英国南安普顿和法国Onera之间进行。商定的计划是：0 - 18个月：学生在ONERA托管。Peter Schmollgruber将担任工业主管。19 - 36个月：学生将在南安普顿由Andrea Da Ronch领导的小组内工作。

Aircraft design proceeds through a series of maturity gates. At the conceptual design phase, the primary objective is to produce a tentative engineering proposal that meets the requirements of the envisioned aircraft with the facility for accommodating constraints from unforeseen environmental and economic forces. The methods that aid in bringing a conceptual design into fruition are primarily analytical and semi-empirical, limited in their application by the strong underlying assumptions. Although there is a continued effort to introduce physics-based methods earlier in the design process [1], there are inherent sources of uncertainty in aerodynamic performance and weight and balance predictions that need to be accounted for. Therefore, the central question posed in this research project is: Can we develop a robust analysis and optimisation process for a highly flexible aerial platform, and assess the performance of the virtual aircraft through testing on a fixed-base flight simulator?The PhD project is built around three technical objectives. The first is related to the development of the computational framework for robust analysis and optimisation using open-source software tools as well as in-house codes already implemented at the two host organisations. The second objective concerns the ability to deal with uncertainties in the weight and balance estimates, and to manage the widespread impact that this type of uncertainty has on the multi-faceted aspects of aircraft design. The third objective relates to the development of the flight control system that accounts for noisy measurements of interest quantities at few, discrete sensor locations, with the measurement quality being dependent on the type of sensors used. The design of an unmanned aerial vehicle will be assisted by virtual testing on a fixed-base flight simulator located at the University of Southampton.The proposed PhD programme will be completed in a split-site agreement between the University of Southampton, UK, and ONERA - The French Aerospace Lab.The successful applicant has an excellent background in physics, engineering or applied mathematics. Experience with programming is essential. One full three-year studentship is available for UK/EU students only. The stipend is at the standard EPSRC-level.[1] Franciolini M, Da Ronch A, Drofelnik J, Raveh D and Crivellini A, "Efficient infinite-swept wing solver for steady and unsteady compressible flows", Aerospace Science and Technology, 2017; 72: 217-229.The PhD programme will be split between Southampton, UK, and Onera, France. The agreed plan is:0 - 18 months: the student is hosted at ONERA. Peter Schmollgruber will act as industrial supervisor.19 - 36 months: the student will be based at Southampton within the group led by Andrea Da Ronch.