An Efficient Parametric Modeling, Evaluation and Optimization Strategy for Aerodynamic Configuration Design of eVTOL Aircraft
Traditional aerodynamic design faces significant limitations in modeling and computational efficiency during conceptual design stage. A phased collaborative aerodynamic design strategy for eVTOL aircraft was established, by combining the OpenVSP platform for rapid parametric modeling and evaluation,...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Aerospace Research Communications |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/articles/10.3389/arc.2025.14986/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849392480172113920 |
|---|---|
| author | Yiming Du Zehao Liu Meizhu Shen Jiang Wu Kexin Zhang Chuanye Jiang Jiale Zhong |
| author_facet | Yiming Du Zehao Liu Meizhu Shen Jiang Wu Kexin Zhang Chuanye Jiang Jiale Zhong |
| author_sort | Yiming Du |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traditional aerodynamic design faces significant limitations in modeling and computational efficiency during conceptual design stage. A phased collaborative aerodynamic design strategy for eVTOL aircraft was established, by combining the OpenVSP platform for rapid parametric modeling and evaluation, a Kriging surrogate framework with an improved differential evolution algorithm for optimization, and the SUAVE platform for propeller reverse design. In the wing-body (WB) optimization phase, 23 configuration parameters such as the wing shape and location were adjusted. The aerodynamic evaluation was conducted using the Vortex Lattice Method (VLM) in OpenVSP, resulting in a 9.3% increase in the lift-to-drag ratio (L/D). During the wing-body-propeller (WBP) coupling optimization phase, the Actuator Disk Theory (ADT) was incorporated into WB model to quantify the slipstream effects. After optimizing the key geometric parameters such as disk diameter and location, the comprehensive propulsion efficiency and lift-to-drag ratio (η·/L/D) was increased by 14%. Relative performance parameters were then transferred to SUAVE to reconstruct the propeller based on the Betz-BEM theory. The RANS high-fidelity verification of the optimized WBP model shows high consistency in the trends of lift coefficient Cl and L/D calculated by VLM, with the propeller thrust error 5.2%, and the Cl error 9.7%, which confirms the engineering reliability and efficiency of the proposed strategy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-96cb0a63804f498ea8ec23d4c20aaa12 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2813-6209 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerospace Research Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-96cb0a63804f498ea8ec23d4c20aaa122025-08-20T03:40:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Aerospace Research Communications2813-62092025-08-01310.3389/arc.2025.1498614986An Efficient Parametric Modeling, Evaluation and Optimization Strategy for Aerodynamic Configuration Design of eVTOL AircraftYiming Du0Zehao Liu1Meizhu Shen2Jiang Wu3Kexin Zhang4Chuanye Jiang5Jiale Zhong6College of Aerospace Engineering, Shenyang Aerospace University, Shenyang, ChinaCollege of Aerospace Engineering, Shenyang Aerospace University, Shenyang, ChinaCollege of Aerospace Engineering, Shenyang Aerospace University, Shenyang, ChinaLiaoning General Aviation Academy, Shenyang Aerospace University, Shenyang, ChinaCollege of Aerospace Engineering, Shenyang Aerospace University, Shenyang, ChinaCollege of Aerospace Engineering, Shenyang Aerospace University, Shenyang, ChinaCollege of Aerospace Engineering, Shenyang Aerospace University, Shenyang, ChinaTraditional aerodynamic design faces significant limitations in modeling and computational efficiency during conceptual design stage. A phased collaborative aerodynamic design strategy for eVTOL aircraft was established, by combining the OpenVSP platform for rapid parametric modeling and evaluation, a Kriging surrogate framework with an improved differential evolution algorithm for optimization, and the SUAVE platform for propeller reverse design. In the wing-body (WB) optimization phase, 23 configuration parameters such as the wing shape and location were adjusted. The aerodynamic evaluation was conducted using the Vortex Lattice Method (VLM) in OpenVSP, resulting in a 9.3% increase in the lift-to-drag ratio (L/D). During the wing-body-propeller (WBP) coupling optimization phase, the Actuator Disk Theory (ADT) was incorporated into WB model to quantify the slipstream effects. After optimizing the key geometric parameters such as disk diameter and location, the comprehensive propulsion efficiency and lift-to-drag ratio (η·/L/D) was increased by 14%. Relative performance parameters were then transferred to SUAVE to reconstruct the propeller based on the Betz-BEM theory. The RANS high-fidelity verification of the optimized WBP model shows high consistency in the trends of lift coefficient Cl and L/D calculated by VLM, with the propeller thrust error 5.2%, and the Cl error 9.7%, which confirms the engineering reliability and efficiency of the proposed strategy.https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/articles/10.3389/arc.2025.14986/fulleVTOLvortex lattice methodparametric modelingsurrogate optimizationaerodynamic configuration |
| spellingShingle | Yiming Du Zehao Liu Meizhu Shen Jiang Wu Kexin Zhang Chuanye Jiang Jiale Zhong An Efficient Parametric Modeling, Evaluation and Optimization Strategy for Aerodynamic Configuration Design of eVTOL Aircraft Aerospace Research Communications eVTOL vortex lattice method parametric modeling surrogate optimization aerodynamic configuration |
| title | An Efficient Parametric Modeling, Evaluation and Optimization Strategy for Aerodynamic Configuration Design of eVTOL Aircraft |
| title_full | An Efficient Parametric Modeling, Evaluation and Optimization Strategy for Aerodynamic Configuration Design of eVTOL Aircraft |
| title_fullStr | An Efficient Parametric Modeling, Evaluation and Optimization Strategy for Aerodynamic Configuration Design of eVTOL Aircraft |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Efficient Parametric Modeling, Evaluation and Optimization Strategy for Aerodynamic Configuration Design of eVTOL Aircraft |
| title_short | An Efficient Parametric Modeling, Evaluation and Optimization Strategy for Aerodynamic Configuration Design of eVTOL Aircraft |
| title_sort | efficient parametric modeling evaluation and optimization strategy for aerodynamic configuration design of evtol aircraft |
| topic | eVTOL vortex lattice method parametric modeling surrogate optimization aerodynamic configuration |
| url | https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/articles/10.3389/arc.2025.14986/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yimingdu anefficientparametricmodelingevaluationandoptimizationstrategyforaerodynamicconfigurationdesignofevtolaircraft AT zehaoliu anefficientparametricmodelingevaluationandoptimizationstrategyforaerodynamicconfigurationdesignofevtolaircraft AT meizhushen anefficientparametricmodelingevaluationandoptimizationstrategyforaerodynamicconfigurationdesignofevtolaircraft AT jiangwu anefficientparametricmodelingevaluationandoptimizationstrategyforaerodynamicconfigurationdesignofevtolaircraft AT kexinzhang anefficientparametricmodelingevaluationandoptimizationstrategyforaerodynamicconfigurationdesignofevtolaircraft AT chuanyejiang anefficientparametricmodelingevaluationandoptimizationstrategyforaerodynamicconfigurationdesignofevtolaircraft AT jialezhong anefficientparametricmodelingevaluationandoptimizationstrategyforaerodynamicconfigurationdesignofevtolaircraft AT yimingdu efficientparametricmodelingevaluationandoptimizationstrategyforaerodynamicconfigurationdesignofevtolaircraft AT zehaoliu efficientparametricmodelingevaluationandoptimizationstrategyforaerodynamicconfigurationdesignofevtolaircraft AT meizhushen efficientparametricmodelingevaluationandoptimizationstrategyforaerodynamicconfigurationdesignofevtolaircraft AT jiangwu efficientparametricmodelingevaluationandoptimizationstrategyforaerodynamicconfigurationdesignofevtolaircraft AT kexinzhang efficientparametricmodelingevaluationandoptimizationstrategyforaerodynamicconfigurationdesignofevtolaircraft AT chuanyejiang efficientparametricmodelingevaluationandoptimizationstrategyforaerodynamicconfigurationdesignofevtolaircraft AT jialezhong efficientparametricmodelingevaluationandoptimizationstrategyforaerodynamicconfigurationdesignofevtolaircraft |