Annalisa Riccardi

Multidisciplinary design optimization models and algorithms for space launch vehicles

The paper presents in details the engineering models and optimization algorithms for a Multidisciplinary Design Optimization research framework developed within ESA’s PRESTIGE PhD program. The application focuses on the conceptual design of classical unmanned Expendable Launch Vehicles, with future extensions to the early preliminary detail level and to more complex systems such as manned and reusable vehicles. Results are presented from the validation of the disciplinary models and optimization algorithms. Besides, sensitivity analyses and Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization runs on European test cases (Ariane-5 ECA and VEGA) show how relatively simple models and a mixed global/local optimization approach allow to obtain reasonable results for conceptual level design (10 to 20% errors on global performance figures) with very limited computational effort.

Global and local multidisciplinary design optimization of expendable launch vehicles

The paper presents engineering models, optimization algorithms and design results from a Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) research in the framework of ESA’s PRESTIGE PhD program. The application focuses on the conceptual design of classical unmanned Expendable Launch Vehicles, and results are presented from sensitivity studies and validation tests on European launchers (Ariane-5 ECA and VEGA). Relatively simple models and a mixed global/local optimization approach allow obtaining reasonable results with limited computational effort. A critical analysis of the results also leads to the identification of the most critical modeling aspects to be improved to allow for early preliminary design applications.

Quantitative Assessment of Multidisciplinary Design Models for Expendable Launch Vehicles

The research effort described in this paper is centered on the development and quantitative assessment of a multidisciplinary design optimization environment for the early design phases of expendable launch vehicles. The focus of the research is on the engineering modeling aspects, with the goal of evaluating in detail the accuracy of engineering-level methods for launch vehicle design, both in terms of disciplinary errors (e.g., engine specific impulse evaluation) and of system-level sensitivities, to assess their applicability to industrial early design. Although aerospace applications of multidisciplinary design optimization can be found in literature, the systematic assessment of the models’ accuracies to the extent described in the present research is a rather new endeavor, which is critical for the advancement of this field. In fact, the widespread industrial application of multidisciplinary design optimization has often been obstructed by the difficulty of finding a suitable compromise between the ...