A second law approach to aircraft conceptual design

• Main Author: Gleeson, David A.
• Other Authors: Newberry, Conrad F.
• Language: en_US
• Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2013
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/32752

With advancements in the fields of propulsion, aerodynamics, structures, materials and controls, the routine exploration of hypersonic, atmospheric flight has become a more feasible concept. Thus, there is a need for efficient and effective hypersonic configurations. Current studies in configuration efficiency and effectiveness seem to be concentrated in aircraft subsystem design, especially propulsion systems, rather than at the conceptual aircraft system design level. This thesis attempts to initiate the process of incorporating the Second Law of Thermodynamics into the conceptual aircraft design process. The methodology for this process involves the use of the thermodynamic variable exergy, also known as availability. The ultimate goal of the process introduced by this thesis is to be able to define an aircraft configuration design space based upon both the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics.