Multi-Fidelity Conceptual Design and Optimization of Low Boom Supersonic Transport Aircraft

The Lockheed X-59 demonstrator was designed and tested to validate low boom concept feasibility for minimal community disturbance due to super sonic flight. The Concorde was the only supersonic commercial transport in service and its flight paths were limited by the significant ground disturbance due to the sonic boom. The focus of this paper is to conduct a design study for development of supersonic aircraft that can address the sonic boom constraint. Using three levels of fidelity—from conceptual sizing to Euler CFD shape optimization—this study demonstrates the potential designs for a future supersonic commercial transport with reduced environmental impact. The Concorde produced a sonic boom disturbance of 105-110 PLdB. In contrast, this design concept supports 40 passengers cruising at Mach 1.4, with a disturbance level of 95 PLdB before shape optimization. This design process has identified a concept that can reduce the observers disturbance by nearly half. Further parameterization of the concepts in early design phase would allow optimization directly to a ’low boom’ design of 85 PLdB or less.