Optimization of a SAE aero design aircraft

Abstract

The Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR) has participated in SAE Aero Design for the previous years. SAE Aero Design is an international competition in which an airplane is designed by the students into one academic calendar year. SAE Aero Design have three classes of competition: Regular, Advance, and Micro. In 2018 PUPR participated in Regular Class with an aircraft called ORCA. The objective of Regular Class is designing an aircraft able to carry as much payload as possible fulfilling every requirement and limitations. ORCA was a good design, but the aircraft do not have the capacity to carry the payload predicted in the conceptual design. This project is based on the optimization of ORCA. This new design is bigger, lighter, and can carry the payload predicted fulfilling every requirement and limitations. The design method for the aircraft was based on a full weight analysis from various aircrafts designed for the same purpose, including ORCA. Key Terms ⎯ Center of Gravity (CG), Empty Weight Fraction (We/W0), SAE Aero Design, Wing Loading (W/S).