Evaluation of Aeroacoustic Optimisation Strategies for a Generic Flight Mission of a Tilt-Propeller Aircraft

Abstract

Balancing propeller performance between cruise and hover conditions is a critical challenge in eco-friendly aircraft design. This paper presents a novel serial multidisciplinary propeller optimization approach, integrating blade element momentum theory for performance assessment and Farassat’s formulation 1A for noise emission prediction. Combined with a genetic algorithm, three different propeller design strategies are systematically evaluated for their suitability in a multidisciplinary propeller optimization routine. The novel serial optimization approach reduces the parameter space in a stepwise manner. The assessment shows that, in the initial step, linear chord and parabolic twist distributions are sufficient for determining the optimal blade number and diameter, significantly accelerating the optimization process. In contrast, detailed blade shape optimization requires a parametric blade description. The assessment shows that considering the system mass is crucial for holistic optimization, while motor efficiency mapping is less critical. This paper provides an innovative optimization scheme that can be utilized in the propulsion system design for new aircraft, enhancing performance and reducing noise emissions.