Generation of Parametric Equivalent-Area Targets for Design of Low-Boom Supersonic Concepts

A tool with an Excel visual interface is developed to generate equivalent-area (Ae) targets that satisfy the volume constraints for a low-boom supersonic configuration. The new parametric Ae target explorer allows users to interactively study the tradeoffs between the aircraft volume constraints and the low-boom characteristics (e.g., loudness) of the ground signature. Moreover, numerical optimization can be used to generate the optimal Ae target for given Ae volume constraints. A case study is used to demonstrate how a generated lowboom Ae target can be matched by a supersonic configuration that includes a fuselage, wing, nacelle, pylon, aft pod, horizontal tail, and vertical tail. The low-boom configuration is verified by sonic-boom analysis with an off-body pressure distribution at three body lengths below the configuration.