Aerodynamic shape optimization of aft propulsive fuselage concept using an internal/external integration model

Abstract The new turboelectric aircraft with aft propulsion fuselage concept (APFC) utilizes an electrically driven fan powered by main engines that ingest the fuselage boundary layer for increased propulsive efficiency. However, with the high integration of the fuselage and the aft propulsion system, the APFC produces the coupling problem of the internal/external flow field. In this paper, an integration model using computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based aerodynamic shape optimization is performed to study the power savings of the APFC to a reference traditional podded configuration. The results show that the power savings of APFC have a better performance compared to a traditional propulsion system.