Multidisciplinary design optimisation of an aircraft with the semi-aeroelastic hinge device

This paper presents a multidisciplinary design optimisation approach aimed at improving aircraft performance by incorporating the semi-aeroelastic hinge (SAH) device onto the wings. Such a technology is an enabler for higher aspect ratio wings with less induced drag and little increase in wing weight, whilst also meeting airport gate limitations. The paper focuses on the optimisation of a single-aisle aircraft to ensure that the internal wingspan remains below the maximum range to classify the aircraft as Category C. Trim, manoeuvre, aileron reversal and roll analyses are used to set the constraints on the aircraft, while the performance model is used to evaluate the range set as the objective of the optimisation. The performance of the aircraft with the semi-aeroelastic hinge device is compared against an aircraft with no wingtip extension and the so-called folding wingtip model, where the wingtips are only used on the ground.