To allow greater confidence in an aircraft system design in an ever increasing complex set of requirements, it becomes important to assess the interactions among systems and sub-systems earlier and with higher confidence. This study presents the Virtual Integrated Aircraft (VIA) methodology, which allows the integration of aircraft systems with virtual means. It aims to complement and precede physical integration, which is usually completed at the end of the validation and integration phase. LMS Imagine.Lab platform provides a means for applying this methodology. A simulation architecture, integrating models from different platforms, is built and simulations are run on a High Performance Computing (HPC) machine to cover multiple scenarios and therefore validate the selected architecture and pre-design in the early system development phases.
A balanced selection of equipment, systems and subsystems are essential for the performance, safety, reliability and comfort. A large part of the non-propulsive power used on the aircraft is allocated to the Environmental Control System (ECS) through use of air bled from the engine. Reducing the bleed off-take is of major importance to increase engine efficiency which needs to be balanced against ensuring comfortable cabin conditions. In addition, failure scenarios must be considered and system response has to be compliant with expectations from regulatory authorities.
This study presents the application of the VIA methodology for the virtual integration of the ECS, and the sub-systems that it supplies, for a middle range aircraft. LMS Imagine.Lab Amesim was used to model the systems involved in the study (ECS, air distribution, engine bleed air) along with the aircraft structure. Once systems are modeled, their integration is performed. Different scenarios are considered and simulated to study the overall aircraft system response and check compliance with regards to expectations.