AER 814 - Aircraft Design Project PROJECT DESCRIPTION Course Instructors: Dr. J. Chung, T317, ext. 7213 Dr. S. Hashemi, S140B, ext. 6421 Ref: AER 814 Course Outline, AER 814 Course Facts Sheet Introduction The purpose of AER 814 is to provide students with an opportunity to participate in an aircraft design assignment similar to one which might be encountered in industry. As in industry, you will be expected to work cooperatively within your design team, providing individual contributions that will aid in the overall design goal, and assisting others on the team when required. As in industry, you will be expected to compete against alternative designs being proposed from outside your design group. Students will be expected to complete interim design assignment outlining personal contributions to the project, and in addition, each design team will be required to submit a final group report. An interim design review in which each student will verbally outline and defend his or her work to that point will also be required, and the groups will provide a final formal presentation of their design to the faculty review board and the other groups. This year's requirement is a commuter aircraft geared for the domestic and international market. This aircraft is to be designed for manufacturing and sale by the client aerospace company. Design Task The class will be split into four or five groups. Each group will be responsible for completing the design of an aircraft which fulfils the requirements described below. As is usually the case in industry, each group will produce its design in competition with the other groups. In early April of 2003, each design will be reviewed and assessed by the faculty review board on the basis of merit, innovation and success in meeting stipulated design goals. A winning design will then be selected. Commuter Aircraft, Basic Requirements The requirement for a proposed regional airline calls for an aircraft type that should carry between 50 and 60 passengers with allowable baggage. It is also required to carry 2 cockpit and 2 cabin crews along with extra cargo. Because of the characteristics of some regional airports, the aircraft must have outstanding airfield performances. This will require the aircraft to be able to take-off and land from relatively short runways and be serviced fairly quickly to minimize turnaround times. Most importantly, the aircraft should be able to offer the airline better operating economics than competing aircraft types while not compromising operating performances. Even though the average sector distance of the proposed routes is only 300 statute miles, the airline would like to have a longer maximum range. However, the airline has not yet decided whether they would choose jet or turboprop aircraft and has asked the aircraft manufacturer to decide on the type. It has been noted that the average fare for those proposed markets is relatively low compared to other countries. The basic mission requirements for the proposed aircraft type are as follows: Crews: 2 Cockpit crews at 180 lbs each with 20 lbs. baggage allowance 2 Cabin crews at 150 lbs each with 20 lbs. baggage allowance Capacity: Between 50 and 60 seats Each passenger weighs 180 lbs. with 20 lbs. baggage allowance Performance: Min. Take-off and Landing distance at ISA condition = 5,500 ft Range at maximum fuel = 1,200 statute miles Maximum operating altitude = 38,000 ft Weights: Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) = 45,000 lbs. Maximum Payload = 13,500 lbs. In addition to those basic requirements, the aircraft should meet the following criteria: 1. New airframe (do not use or upgrade an existing airframe), with use of lightweight composites and other advanced materials encouraged where appropriate. 2. The aircraft structure must have a minimum life of 25 years. 6. Aircraft must be able to be certificated for land, snow and water operation under Canadian transport regulations, and optionally for operation under international aviation regulations. The open-ended requirements for a good sport/utility plane include: aesthetics, good handling qualities under the various flight conditions expected, easy maintenance, and the cockpit environment. The open-ended requirement for the aircraft manufacturer is a good market for this model, with a good return on the investment of money for prototype development and certification. Powerplant The groups may select a suitable engine configuration. The choice of powerplant should be justified by groups. The candidate engine must currently be available from a manufacturer (i.e., at least a prototype has been built and tested), and capable of fulfilling the commuter aircraft role. Performance, Aerodynamics, Stability and Control, Structural Analysis and Design It will be the responsibility of each group to define and assess its aircraft's performance requirements and then ensure that its aircraft attains them. This process will involve such aspects as powerplant selection, weights and balance, aerodynamic requirements (airfoil selection, wing planform, stabilizer design, etc.), stability and control requirements (roll/pitch/yaw static and dynamic stability, control surface sizing, etc.), design of accessories and accommodations for seating & baggage. Once this has been done, the design and load/stress analysis of the aircraft structure are to be completed. Detailed stress analysis and structural design is only required for the wing. For the other components of the structure, brief calculations demonstrating their ability to resist the primary loads will suffice. A successful final design must include CAD drawings of all primary structures. The design groups should develop an understanding of the interaction between various systems that make up the commuter plane and that enable the aircraft to perform the desired mission(s), and this understanding should be demonstrated in the technical reports for maximum benefit. Interim and Final Reports Interim individual design assignments consistent with the student's role in the design group will be given. Individual group members are also required to give an interim presentation in March of 2003 detailing their contribution to the group's efforts up to that point. The interim design assignments and individual presentation will comprise 40% of the overall grade. A final group report is expected from each group by 4 PM, Friday, April 4, 2003. This report should comprise the work done by all members of the design team individually and together, and should be written in a cohesive, professional manner for maximum benefit. Copies of the group report should be made available at the same time to the other groups, who in this friendly competition will be asked to prepare questions concerning technical aspects of the various designs that compete with their own. Reports that are submitted late will almost surely eliminate the offending group(s) from winning the competition, so the groups should act well ahead of the deadline with regard to report preparation, printing and copying. Finally, group presentations will be held on Wednesday, April 9, 2003 (20-min formal presentation followed by a 20-min question period, involving other groups as well as the faculty review board). The group mark (60% of overall grade) will be comprised of the effort put into the report, the presentation, and importantly, the quantity and quality of inciting questions posed towards the other groups during their presentation.