Eurofighter: Aerodynamics within a Multi-Discipilinary Design Environment
Abstract
The art and science of aerodynamics have been developing continually to meet the changing needs of aircraft of all types. in many cases, combat aircraft design drives this development farther and faster in the search for improved combat effectiveness. One result has been that an ever broadening of the individual but heavily integrated aspects of aerodynamics into a set of interdependent, diverse fields, covering fluid dynamics, structural dynamics, solid body mechanics, ballistics, acoustics and more recently electro-magnetics. Together, these individual disciplines are combined together into a term sometimes referred to as aerodynamic technology, as described in a recent Royal Aeronautical Society edition. This paper will examine the requirements placed upon these disciplines in the light of the multi-disciplinary design optimization process that took place on the Eurofighter project, specifically highlighting the roles of the aerodynamic technologies within that process and the lessons learned from their application in this environment. The paper will also provide some recommendations for improvements in the design capabilities based upon the experience gained and lessons learned from the design of the Eurofighter Weapon System.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADP010499
Entities
People
- Keith Mckay