Aircraft Design and Sizing
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Use:aircraft sizing and optimization/mission analysis
Author:many contributors from NASA Ames and Virginia Tech
Address:now available from
Phoenix Integration, Inc.
1750 Kraft Dr., Suite 2200, Blacksburg, VA 24060, Phone: 1-800-500-1936,
FAX: (540) 961-5831, WWW: www.phoenix-int.com, E-Mail: info@phoenix-int.com
Platform: workstations
Documentation: many papers, key references (Gregory, 1974, Vanderplaats, 1976,
Wampler et al, 1988, Jayaram et al, 1992)
Availability:commercial and educational
License: Single and group licensing available with flexible pricing options
Code: Analysis is FORTRAN, Graphics is PHIGS and lots of C.
Graphics: yes
Discussion:ACSYNT is PHIGS based and runs on all workstations.
It is an extremely sophisticated aircraft configuration sizing and optimization code,
which can also be used for mission analysis. It also has a good cost module, as well as
several other capabilities.
Fully interactive, ACSYNT allows the user to create geometry parametrically
(using design parameters such as wing area and taper ratio) instead of specifying 3-D
points and curves. The CAD capability includes a "spreadsheet" format for entering
data for the analysis modules. The spreadsheet has on-line help for all the analysis
variables, formula capabilities, and can be custom-tailored for individual user's needs.
This code is an example of a professional level code. It requires a significant
investment in time and energy to use it effectively. Out of a class of thirty students my
experience would be that perhaps four or five would become effective users.
This program was developed in the early 90s in The ACSYNT Institute, which was a venture
to commercialize NASA technology. It became a commercial operation starting in 1996. Much
of the work done by Phoenix Integration is actually the application of methodology
developed with ACSYNT in mind to other applications, such as combining large legacy
codes, developing user-oriented optimization environments, and CAD modeling with
an ability to use the models for analysis.
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FLOPS
Use: aircraft sizing, optimization/mission analysis
Author: Arnie McCullers
Address: ViGYAN Inc.,
Mail Stop 412,
NASA Langley Research Center,
Hampton, VA 23681-0001,
(804) 864-7631,
email: amccul@avd00.larc.nasa.gov
Platform: workstations
Documentation: A large user's manual is online, but the theory Doc is limited,
primarily one conference paper (McCullers, 1984)
Availability: available under some circumstances, check with NASA,
the NASA ADP Program Schools seemed to be able to acquire it
License: -
Code: FORTRAN 77, required for workstation installation
Graphics: yes, a graphics version is now available
Discussion: This is an excellent code under continual development.
It has a similar capability to ACSYNT, and numerous modules for noise,detailed
takeoff and other capabilities. We have used it extensively in our graduate program with good
results. We did not use it in the undergraduate program because we did not have
workstations access for large numbers of undergraduates.
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AAA
Use: aircraft design and analysis
Author: Prof. Roskam and associates
Address:DARcorporation,
1440 Wkarusa Drive, Suite 500, Lawrence, KS, 66049, Phone: 1-800-DAR-7144,
(785) 832-0434, fax: (785) 832-0524.
Platform:originally workstations, now available on PCs
Documentation:extensive, based on Roskam's books and subsequent development
Availability:Commercially available. Education discounts available.
License:a variety of single and multi-node licenses are available, as are
educational discounts
Code:-
Graphics:YES
Discussion: The AAA (Advanced Aircraft Analysis) code started out as a computerized
version of Roskam's eight-volume text: Airplane Design, Parts I-VIII,
featuring a user-friendly interface. The code operates on a number of workstations,
and PCs running Windows. See the DARcorp web site for current pricing and details.
Many of the analysis packages are also available separately for PCs.
The company has been developing this code for a number of years, and
it now has advanced beyond the capability of a computerized version of
Roskam's design books. Because of Roskam's background, it
has considerable capability in the stability and control area.
I have not personally been associated with a project that has used this code.
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Chuck Eastlake Codes
Use:simple general aviation/executive jet sizing and cost estimation
Author:Prof. Chuck Eastlake
Address:Aerospace Engineering Department,
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University,
600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd.,
Daytona Beach, FL 32114-3900,
voice: (904) 226-6000,
fax: (904) 226-6459
Platform:any PC with BASIC
Documentation:a modest amount of Doc is available
Availability:I think Prof. Eastlake will provide this code upon request.
License:-
Code:user gets BASIC source code
Graphics:yes, some
Discussion:Prof. Eastlake has written several useful programs.
LITECOST calculates the purchase cost and LITEOPS calculates the the operation
cost of light aircraft. EXECCOST calculates the purchase cost and EXECOPS calculates the operation
cost of executive aircraft. These programs have been used for several years by Prof. Eastlake,
and contain adjustments to previously published algorithms to include his own experience.
I think the sizing is closely related to Nicolai's method (Nicolai, 1975).
Prof. Eastlake has also written some aircraft design programs to use in
high school outreach programs. These programs give the weight and size of light and executive
jet type aircraft as a function of a number of basic parameters. Both the
programs and the cost programs are written in BASIC. Although available in IBM format,
I converted them to run in QuickBASIC on the Macintosh quite easily.
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RDS-Student
Use:aircraft design, sizing and performance
Author:Dan Raymer
Address:STUDENT:
contact the
AIAA Publications Customer Service Center,
9 Jay Gould Court,
P.O. Box 753,
Waldorf, MD 20604,
voice: 1-800-682-AIAA,
or (301) 645-5643 Dept. 415,
fax: (301) 843-0159.
Professional Version:
Conceptual Research Corporation,
PO Box 5429, Playa del Rey, CA 90296
Office/Shipping Address: 411 Rees St., Playa del Rey, CA 90293
Phone: 310 577 3773, fax: 818 743 7483
Platform:IBM, at least a 286 processor.
Documentation:Based on his book and a manual that comes with the disk (Raymer, 1992)
Availability:The Student Version is available from the AIAA at $54.95 for AIAA members.
A professional version is available from Raymer's company. Note: Raymer makes
a small sizing code available for free
on his web site!
License:Single user license, the program may not be installed on a
network or a multi-user computer (i.e., computer laboratory) RDS-STUDENT may not
be used for actual aircraft design or other professional activities.
The AIAA site license is too expensive to consider for use at Virginia Tech. It's
much cheaper for students to each purchase a copy of the code on their own.
This prevents this code from being formally used at Virginia Tech in the design course.
Code:user gets executable
Graphics:yes, CAD module available to develop the geometry.
Discussion:This is a software package put together by Raymer, and implements
the approach described in his book. It is published by the AIAA and runs on IBM computers.
It has a rather restrictive site license. However, it is relatively inexpensive
and includes both a CAD package and analysis modules. This program includes cost analysis,
as well as airline economics. This program runs quickly and could be quite useful
in a design class. It can probably simulate many current airplanes reasonably well.
As with all industrial sizing codes, adjustment factors are available to change the
code predictions to account for circumstances where the internal weight, drag and
thrust estimates are not accurate. It has a relatively complete mission capability, and
is probably the best PC code available in this price range. Professional Version:
This is a much more comprehensive and expensive version being sold by Raymer.
It appears to be quite capable, but I keep missing the demos of the program.
Back to Aircraft Design and Sizing
Use:aircraft design
Author:Dr. D. Simos
Address: Lissys Limited,
6 Paterson Drive,
Woodhouse Eaves, LE12 8RL, United Kingdom
Platform:Any Apple Macintosh
Documentation:Interactive built-in user's guide, plus detailed hardcopy manual
Availability:from Lissys, contact them for pricing
License:a variety of arrangements are available.
Code:user gets executable
Graphics:yes
Discussion:This is complete aircraft design program for Macintosh computers
from Great Britain. Essentially, it does everything that is needed in conceptual
design environment. This includes weight and mass analysis, geometric and wetted
area calculations, and aerodynamic performance estimates. It then computes a complete
performance evaluation and can also be used in an optimization mode. It is oriented
toward FAR Part 25 commercial aircraft. This program is distributed by Dr. S. Simos,
who has published numerous papers on aircraft design. I would expect this program to be
quite good, but I have not heard of it being used in the US. Check out their web
site for more details, it's a good one.
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Madsen Aircraft Design Program (M.A.D.) V2.0.1
(as of Dec. 1, 2000, this is considered to be an obsolete version, new versions may be available,
contact Madsen at the address below)
Use:evaluation of a design for performance and stability and control
Author:Ned Madsen
Address:Ned Madsen,
1212 Patrick Henry St.,
Derby KS 67037,
E-Mail: Aeroned@aol.com (Updated info on Dec. 1, 2000)
Platform:Macintosh
Documentation:User's guide describes the methods. The manual contains all the
equations used, and is generally very thorough.
Availability:The M.A.D. 2.0 program is shareware, and costs $25. With this
fee you get a copy of the program without the shareware screen, the User's Guide and
future upgrades.
License:shareware, may not be sold.
Code:you get an executable compiled from QuickBASIC
Graphics:no
Discussion:From the shareware description: This Macintosh program was
written to aid the aircraft designer with the conceptual design phase using the
Mac user interface. The interactive nature of the program is ideal to quickly
modify and reanalyze the design. For example, increasing the wing span has many
effects on the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft. The program evaluates
changes easily. It does not have any fancy graphic capabilities, it is intended
to be a number cruncher.
The design should first be sketched with approximate dimensions for
easy input to the program. There are over 100 inputs. An input list is available
under the FILE menu. The inputs are self explanatory. The program evaluates the
design in the areas of weight and balance, lift and drag, stability, controllability,
and performance. Many of the outputs are simple. Others require a knowledge of some aircraft
design parameters.
All of the outputs are explained in the User's Guide. The
User guide contains a comprehensive overview of the execution of the program,
all of the equations used, and a detailed explanation of the inputs and outputs
from the program. The outputs are also shown in graphical form to further assist
the designer in evaluating the design. The code is available from
The code is oriented toward general aviation aircraft, and contains an
excellent database of airfoils and engines for GA aircraft. It is well worth the shareware
fee. It evaluates the design in terms of weight and balance, lift and drag,
stability, controllability, and performance.
Back to Aircraft Design and Sizing
Computer Aircraft Designer (out of business in 1997?)
Use:CAD for aircraft layout, point performance and stability estimates
Author:?
Address: COMPUTER AIRCRAFT DESIGN,
P.O. Box 96, Herndon, VA 22070,
Phone: (703) 444-0308,
email: cad@digex.com,
bbs: (703) 476-9832
Platform:IBM
Documentation:A manual comes with the code
Availability:The program costs $79.95.
A demo is available from the bbs.
License:-
Code:user gets an executable module
Graphics:yes
Discussion:This is a "design" program written by RC modelers, This program
is for IBM and compatibles. It is intended to be used for RC model design. It prints
out plans on dot matrix printers, and is CAD oriented. It evaluates a given design,
and provides details of the range of cg positions for which the plane is stable.
It also calculates the performance. It does not perform sizing as such. Interestingly,
it handles multi-fuselage, asymmetric and canard aircraft. It also evaluates the design
for stability and performance characteristics. The look of the program is very
professional. We had a hard time establishing contact with this company, but the
product appears to be of good quality. However, at present there is very limited
documentation of the methods used.
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Airplane Design
Use:evaluation of a given design
Author:Donald R. Crawford
Address:Crawford Aviation,
P.O. Box 1262-,
Torrance, CA 90505,
(310 or 213?) 375-9227
Platform:any computer with BASIC
Documentation:a book by Crawford (Crawford, 1986)
Availability:listings in the book, disk available
License:buy the book
Code:BASIC Source Code is provided.
Graphics:no
Discussion:This is a book collecting a series of articles that appeared in Kitplanes,
together with BASIC listings. It contains a variety of useful design codes. A disk of BASIC
codes is available for IBM computers. A performance book and disk
are
also available. Some of my students have been happy with this program. The book is
about $25, and and the disk is about $40. However, it would be informative to type
in the listings and examine exactly what is going on. Naturally this book is also
oriented
toward GA aircraft. Specific programs include: 1. simple performance, 2. simple stability
and control, 3. V-n diagram, 4. endurance, range and fuel efficiency, 5. Propeller parameters,
6. Std. Atmos. and Perf., 7. Horseshoe vortex induced velocity, 8.
Vortex lattice wing code, 9. Transformation matrix from Euler Angles,
10. NACA 4 and 5 digit airfoils, 11. Solution of a quartic for stability analysis,
12. Longitudinal stability, 13. Lateral stability
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BBOX95
Use:MDO of a transonic airplane
Author:Brett Malone
Address:ACSYNT Institute
(see detailed address above)
Platform:a strong PC, Macintosh or workstation
Documentation:Virginia Tech AOE Report and several AIAA papers
(Malone and Mason, 1995, Malone and Mason, 1992, Malone and Mason, 1991)
Availability:available for free, report is available for the cost of the copy
License:This code is free, but it requires the DOT optimization tools, a
commercial code. See the DOT writeup below in the optimization section for details.
Code:FORTRAN, DOT package is not available from VPI, the user must acquire it from VMA.
Graphics:no, but puts out files for Quatro Pro
Discussion:This codes uses the global sensitivity approach to arrive at an optimum
design. The various disciplines are modeled with simple analytic representations. The
example is a C-17 like transport. Some students have had good success with
this program.
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ACSIZE.QB, ACSWEEP.QB
Use:very simple aircraft sizing
Author:W. H. Mason
Address:Virginia Tech
Platform:any computer with BASIC
Documentation:in Aircraft Design Class course notes and Nicolai's text (Nicolai, 1975).
Availability:acsize,
acsweep
License:-
Code:user gets QuickBASIC source code
Graphics:no
Discussion:This is a straight-forward implementation of Nicolai's sizing method.
It was written in BASIC because it was originally used on an Apple ][. I thought that
keeping it in BASIC would force the students to look at the code to understand
what was going on before translating it to a modern language. I was wrong. Students
still find BASIC, and many run the code without looking at the details. acsize is
the actual sizing code and acsweep computes the available and required empty weights
over range of takeoff gross weights to provide insight into the process.
Back to Aircraft Design and Sizing