Design Processes and Criteria for the X-51A Flight Vehicle Airframe

Abstract

Flight vehicle airframes in today's advanced flight systems are required to optimally integrate a variety of multi-functional requirements to maximize effectiveness with acceptable risk. The X-51A airframe design process and criteria draw upon decades of successful design of both manned and unmanned flight vehicles for production and experimental intent. This paper summarizes the X-51A vehicle mission requirements, system design, design processes used for airframe synthesis, design safety factors, success criteria and issues facing the incorporation of advanced optimization techniques in the development of airframes for vehicles such as the X-51A.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA478731

Entities

People

  • Jeffrey Lane

Organizations

  • Boeing Defense, Space & Security

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Design Criteria
  • Dynamic Pressure
  • Engines
  • Mach Number
  • Materials
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Safety
  • Safety Factor
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Standards
  • Supersonic Combustion Ramjet Engines
  • Test Facilities
  • Turbines

Fields of Study

  • Engineering
  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy