Multidisciplinary design optimization of an expendable launch vehicle

Abstract

This paper describes an effort to optimize the design of an expendable launch vehicle (ELV) to low-Earth orbit, consisting of multiple stages with the goal of minimizing total vehicle weight and ultimately vehicle cost. The disciplines of weight & sizing, propulsion characteristics, aerodynamics and flight dynamics have been integrated to produce a system model of the entire vehicle. One multilevel multidisciplinary optimization techniques - Collaborative - is applied to the design of a launch vehicle. The results inclusive designed launch vehicle data has been validated by existing launch vehicle data.