Model-based design and multidisciplinary optimization of complex system architectures in the aircraft cabin

The aviation industry is currently facing major challenges due to environmental and socio-economic trends toward sustainable and digitalized aviation. Revolutionary, more powerful and efficient technologies must be rapidly integrated into aircraft, while aircraft manufacturers must demonstrate the required safety. To support the implementation of new concepts, the DLR Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics is researching methods for end-to-end digitalization from the preliminary design phase to assembly and production. In this context, Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization are important approaches for the development of complex systems. This paper presents a method for the end-to-end use of digital models for multidisciplinary optimization of system architectures. The Systems Modeling Language (SysML) is used to represent the system architecture. The focus is on the cabin and cabin systems, since they are highly coupled to other aircraft systems and have dynamic, customer-specific configuration requirements. The system architecture in SysML is instantiated and configured by the interface to the aircraft fuselage and cabin design parameter sets in the Common Parametric Configuration Schema. The subsequent coupling of the generated system architecture model with the cabin system design model developed in Matlab allows a multidisciplinary optimization of the system properties. A sensitivity analysis is performed using the Passenger Service Unit as an example. The effects of different cabin configurations on the system architecture are investigated and interdisciplinary synergies are identified and analyzed. The results of this analysis are discussed in this paper. © 2023, The Author(s).