Optimal Cruise Characteristic Analysis and Parameter Optimization Method for Air-Breathing Hypersonic Vehicle

Abstract

There is an optimal cruise point with the lowest fuel consumption when a hypersonic vehicle performs steady-state cruise. The optimal cruise point is composed of the optimal cruise altitude and the optimal cruise Mach number, and its position is closely related to the aircraft parameters. This article aims to explore the relationship between the optimal cruise point and relevant aircraft parameters and establish a model to describe it, then an aircraft parameter optimization method of adjusting the optimal cruise point to the target position is explored with validation by numerical simulation. Firstly, a parameterized model of a hypersonic vehicle is obtained as a basis, then the optimal cruise point is obtained by the optimization method, and the influence of a single aircraft parameter on the optimal point is investigated. In order to model the relationship between the aircraft parameters and the optimal cruise point, a neural network is employed. Finally, the model is used to optimize the aircraft parameters under multiple constraints. The results show that, after aircraft parameters optimization, the optimal cruise point is located at the predetermined position and the fuel consumption is lower, which provides a new perspective for the design of aircraft.

Keywords

• hypersonic vehicle
• steady-state cruise
• aircraft parameter
• neural network