Aircraft Design And HPC Development: A 20-Year Perspective.pdf

A 20-Year Perspective by Mattias Sillén (2009)

This presentation, delivered by Mattias Sillén in 2009, offers a comprehensive overview of aircraft design and High-Performance Computing (HPC) development within Saab over two decades. It highlights key areas of expertise and methodologies used throughout the product lifecycle.

Core Competence Areas:

Aeronautical Engineering: Covers structural design, aerodynamics, flight controls, and engine systems.
Operational Analysis & HMI (Human-Machine Interface): Focuses on understanding user needs, system integration, survivability, safety, and maintainability.
Tactical System Integration & Weapons: Integrates avionics, optronics, and weapons systems for mission effectiveness.

Design Process:

The presentation outlines a structured design process encompassing:

Concept Design: Beginning with defining requirements using handbook methods and numerical simulations.
Aerodynamic Shaping: Employing wind tunnel testing and flight tests to refine designs based on aerodynamic analysis, performance simulations, and mass/inertia calculations.
Modeling & Simulation: Utilizing desktop simulators, integration simulators, and flight test platforms for extensive model validation and evaluation.

Key Flows:

Model Verification and Correction: A continuous cycle involving model development, testing against data, and iterative updates based on feedback.
Test Point Coverage: Leveraging models to maximize test efficiency, minimizing the number of physical tests required.

High-Performance Computing (HPC):

The presentation emphasizes the increasing role of HPC in aircraft design:

Modeling Complexity: Advanced models of physical systems, information flows, and human interactions are crucial for accurate simulations.
Simulation Accuracy: HPC enables more detailed and realistic simulations, leading to improved design performance and reduced development time.
Cost-Efficient Testing: Model-based design and simulation reduce the need for extensive physical testing, significantly lowering costs and accelerating development cycles.

Specific Examples:

Wake Vortex Simulation: Demonstrates the use of HPC for simulating complex aerodynamic phenomena like wake vortices, crucial for aircraft handling and safety.

Conclusion:

The presentation underscores Saab's commitment to leveraging advanced technologies, including HPC, throughout the aircraft design process. This approach has led to significant improvements in design efficiency, accuracy, and overall performance over the past 20 years.