Multidisciplinary robust optimization of early-stage aircraft wing design under uncertainty

Background: Early aircraft design must cope with uncertainties that exist due to lack of design maturity, lack of knowledge about aerodynamic loads and constraints as well as model form uncertainties due to lack of confidence in the underlying physics simulation models. The ability to properly account for these uncertainties in early stage aircraft design optimisation becomes a key enabler for industry to properly trade optimum performance against the risks of achieving the performance and meeting the constraints (including key constraints on time to market).

Project aims and methods: The project aims to build a Bayesian inference-based data-driven optimization framework for robust design and optimization of aircraft structures under a set of stringent design constraints imposed by considerations of weight penalty, flexibility in flight conditions, flight envelopes and risk minimization. The specific application area for this work is related to the optimisation of the “jig twist” in the manufacture tooling of Airbus and the impacts of this in terms of the achieved flight shape, aerodynamic performance, and on the overall design loads envelope.

The prospective student is expected to produce high quality journal articles for scientific publication during the course of his/her PhD and would be expected to participate and present his/her research in international conferences.

Research training environment: The student will benefit from an excellent research training environment provided by the Applied and Computational Mechanics group at Cardiff School of Engineering and Airbus. Airbus is a world leader in wing design, engineering and manufacturing and is a key centre for the design, testing and integration of fuel systems and landing gear. Airbus would host and train the prospective PhD student at their research facility in Filton for about 15% of the four year PhD studentship. The student will also receive training in the use of high performance computing facilities which will provided at both Cardiff and Airbus.

Person specification: The prospective PhD student is expected to fulfil the following criterion in order to be considered for this position:

• A four year bachelor degree or a master degree in engineering (Mechanical / Civil / Aerospace or related areas) or fundamental sciences (Mathematics/Physics).
• A good background in coding in Matlab / Python / Fortran / C.
• Good academic track record and communication skills
• The candidate must be a UK citizen or EU national. Other nationalities are eligible provided they have resided in the UK for at least 3 years (not as student) prior to the start of the PhD.

Applicants should have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK. Applicants with a Lower Second Class degree will be considered if they also have a Master’s degree. Applicants with a minimum Upper Second Class degree and significant relevant non-academic experience are also encouraged to apply.

Please email Dr Abhishek Kundu ([Email Address Removed]) with any queries that you might have regarding the position. The closing date for accepting applications is 30 June 2018.