Technology Identification, Evaluation, Selection, and Optimization of a HALE Solar Aircraft

In this paper, sensitivity analysis and optimization of a high altitude long endurance (HALE) solar aircraft was implemented. Zephyr S was referred to for the aircraft conference configuration, and OpenVSP and XFLR5 were employed to create configuration and perform aerodynamic analysis. In the conce...

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Main Authors: Ju-Yeol Yun, Ho-Yon Hwang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-10-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/21/7593
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author Ju-Yeol Yun
Ho-Yon Hwang
author_facet Ju-Yeol Yun
Ho-Yon Hwang
author_sort Ju-Yeol Yun
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, sensitivity analysis and optimization of a high altitude long endurance (HALE) solar aircraft was implemented. Zephyr S was referred to for the aircraft conference configuration, and OpenVSP and XFLR5 were employed to create configuration and perform aerodynamic analysis. In the conceptual design stage of the HALE solar aircraft, technology identification, evaluation, and selection (TIES) methodology was employed. According to the design requirements, problem definition was established, and design goal, variations, and targeted values were set up to implement independent design variables to meet the design requirements. Based on the design of experiments (DOE), modeling of the relationship between design objective parameters and independent design values was implemented. The independent design variables with the largest influence were selected in the screening test. By employing the selected independent design variables, regression equations and sensitivity profiles were produced through response surface method. Inter-factor relationship was easily analyzed through the sensitivity profile. Regression equations were employed in the Monte Carlo simulation to draw design objective parameter values for 10,000 combinations of independent design variables. As a result of the Monte Carlo simulation, the design feasibility of design objective parameters was assessed. Optimization was performed using the desirability function of JMP software, and constraints were applied to each design objective parameter to derive the optimum values of independent design variables. Then, the values of optimized design independent variables were applied to the solar aircraft design framework and analyzed for the endurance flight performance. By comparing the endurance of the optimized configuration with the reference configuration, it was confirmed that the endurance could be improved by using the methodology proposed in this study.
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spelling doaj.art-1c671ea98f0a4db195c113a941bad9ac2023-11-20T18:50:20ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172020-10-011021759310.3390/app10217593Technology Identification, Evaluation, Selection, and Optimization of a HALE Solar AircraftJu-Yeol Yun0Ho-Yon Hwang1Department of Aerospace Engineering, Sejong University, 209, Neungdong-Ro, Gwangjin-Gu, Seoul 05006, KoreaDepartment of Aerospace Engineering, Sejong University, 209, Neungdong-Ro, Gwangjin-Gu, Seoul 05006, KoreaIn this paper, sensitivity analysis and optimization of a high altitude long endurance (HALE) solar aircraft was implemented. Zephyr S was referred to for the aircraft conference configuration, and OpenVSP and XFLR5 were employed to create configuration and perform aerodynamic analysis. In the conceptual design stage of the HALE solar aircraft, technology identification, evaluation, and selection (TIES) methodology was employed. According to the design requirements, problem definition was established, and design goal, variations, and targeted values were set up to implement independent design variables to meet the design requirements. Based on the design of experiments (DOE), modeling of the relationship between design objective parameters and independent design values was implemented. The independent design variables with the largest influence were selected in the screening test. By employing the selected independent design variables, regression equations and sensitivity profiles were produced through response surface method. Inter-factor relationship was easily analyzed through the sensitivity profile. Regression equations were employed in the Monte Carlo simulation to draw design objective parameter values for 10,000 combinations of independent design variables. As a result of the Monte Carlo simulation, the design feasibility of design objective parameters was assessed. Optimization was performed using the desirability function of JMP software, and constraints were applied to each design objective parameter to derive the optimum values of independent design variables. Then, the values of optimized design independent variables were applied to the solar aircraft design framework and analyzed for the endurance flight performance. By comparing the endurance of the optimized configuration with the reference configuration, it was confirmed that the endurance could be improved by using the methodology proposed in this study.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/21/7593solar aircraftaircraft designsolar celldesign of experimentsTIES method
spellingShingle Ju-Yeol Yun
Ho-Yon Hwang
Technology Identification, Evaluation, Selection, and Optimization of a HALE Solar Aircraft
Applied Sciences
solar aircraft
aircraft design
solar cell
design of experiments
TIES method
title Technology Identification, Evaluation, Selection, and Optimization of a HALE Solar Aircraft
title_full Technology Identification, Evaluation, Selection, and Optimization of a HALE Solar Aircraft
title_fullStr Technology Identification, Evaluation, Selection, and Optimization of a HALE Solar Aircraft
title_full_unstemmed Technology Identification, Evaluation, Selection, and Optimization of a HALE Solar Aircraft
title_short Technology Identification, Evaluation, Selection, and Optimization of a HALE Solar Aircraft
title_sort technology identification evaluation selection and optimization of a hale solar aircraft
topic solar aircraft
aircraft design
solar cell
design of experiments
TIES method
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/21/7593
work_keys_str_mv AT juyeolyun technologyidentificationevaluationselectionandoptimizationofahalesolaraircraft
AT hoyonhwang technologyidentificationevaluationselectionandoptimizationofahalesolaraircraft