Commercial Supersonic Technology: The Way Ahead PDF
Preview Commercial Supersonic Technology: The Way Ahead
C o m m e r c i a l SUPERSONIC T e c h n o l o g y The Way Ahead Committee on Breakthrough Technology for Commercial Supersonic Aircraft Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences National Research Council NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS Washington, D.C. NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appro- priate balance. This project was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under contract No.NASW 99037. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publica- tion are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. International Standard Book Number: 0-309-08277-3 Available in limited supply from Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, HA 292, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20418, (202) 334-2855, <www.nationalacademies.org/cets/ asebhome.nsf>. Additional copies available for sale from National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Box 285, Washington, DC 20055, 1-800-624-6242 or (202) 334-3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area), <www.nap.edu>. Copyright 2001 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America Cover: Bird illustrations designed by Antony Jameson, Stanford University. National Academy of Sciences National Academy of Engineering Institute of Medicine National Research Council The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and tech- nology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scien- tific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Acad- emy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering pro- grams aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initia- tive, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I. Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine. The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associ- ate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowl- edge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. Wm. A. Wulf are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council. COMMITTEE ON BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY FOR COMMERCIAL SUPERSONIC AIRCRAFT DIANNE S. WILEY, Chair, The Boeing Company, Huntington Beach, California H. LEE BEACH, JR., Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia JAMES A. (MICKY) BLACKWELL, Lockheed Martin (retired), Marietta, Georgia EUGENE E. COVERT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge DONALD M. DIX, Department of Defense (retired), McLean, Virginia WILLARD DODDS, GE Aircraft Engines, Cincinnati, Ohio ILAN KROO, Stanford University, Stanford, California DOMENIC J. MAGLIERI, Eagle Aeronautics, Inc., Hampton, Virginia MATTHEW MILLER, The Boeing Company, Seattle, Washington DORA E. MUSIELAK, University of Texas, Arlington DAVID K. SCHMIDT, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs MICHAEL WINSLOW, Honeywell, Dayton, Ohio BILL G.W. YEE, Pratt & Whitney (retired), West Palm Beach, Florida Liaison from the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board ROBERT C. GOETZ, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works (retired), Santa Clara, California Staff PRABHAKAR MISRA, Study Coordinator ALAN ANGLEMAN, Senior Program Officer MARY LOU AQUILO, Senior Project Assistant BRIDGET EDMONDS, Senior Project Assistant GEORGE LEVIN, Director, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board MARVIN WEEKS, Senior Administrative Assistant iv AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ENGINEERING BOARD WILLIAM W. HOOVER, Chair, U.S. Air Force (retired), Williamsburg, Virginia A. DWIGHT ABBOTT, Aerospace Corporation (retired), Los Angeles, California RUZENA K. BAJSCY, NAE, IOM, University of California, Berkeley WILLIAM F. BALLHAUS, JR., NAE, Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles, California JAMES BLACKWELL, Lockheed Martin Corporation (retired), Marietta, Georgia ANTHONY J. BRODERICK, aviation safety consultant, Catlett, Virginia DONALD L. CROMER, U.S. Air Force (retired), Lompoc, California ROBERT A. DAVIS, The Boeing Company (retired), Blaine, Washington JOSEPH FULLER, JR., Futron Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland RICHARD GOLASZEWSKI, GRA Inc., Jenkintown, Pennsylvania JAMES M. GUYETTE, Rolls-Royce North America, Reston, Virginia FREDERICK HAUCK, AXA Space, Bethesda, Maryland JOHN L. JUNKINS, NAE, Texas A&M University, College Station JOHN K. LAUBER, Airbus Industrie of North America, Washington, D.C. GEORGE MUELLNER, The Boeing Company, Seal Beach, California DAVA J. NEWMAN, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts JAMES G. O’CONNOR, NAE, Pratt & Whitney (retired), Coventry, Connecticut MALCOLM R. O’NEILL, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland CYNTHIA SAMUELSON, Logistics Management Institute, Springfield, Virginia WINSTON E. SCOTT, Florida State University, Tallahassee KATHRYN C. THORNTON, University of Virginia, Charlottesville ROBERT E. WHITEHEAD, NASA (retired), Henrico, North Carolina DIANNE S. WILEY, The Boeing Company, Huntington Beach, California THOMAS L. WILLIAMS, Northrop Grumman, El Segundo, California Staff GEORGE LEVIN, Director v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY vii Preface Affordable, reliable, and safe air transportation is impor- committee concluded that an economically viable supersonic tant to quality of life and economic growth. Civil aviation aircraft will require new focused efforts in several areas, as has become an essential mode of transportation nationally well as continued development of technology on a broad and globally. If the United States intends to maintain su- front. Furthermore, NASA must advance key technologies premacy in the commercial aerospace sector, it has to take a to a technology readiness level (TRL) high enough (i.e., a long-term perspective and channel adequate resources into TRL of 6, as defined by NASA) to facilitate the handoff of research and technology development. In fact, this task is research results to the aerospace industry for commercial de- one of the legislatively established objectives of the National velopment. The committee concluded that maturation of key Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), but it will technologies could enable operational deployment of an not be achieved without a vigorous aeronautics program that environmentally acceptable, economically viable commer- is relevant to the development of advanced commercial air- cial supersonic aircraft with a cruise speed of less than craft, including supersonic aircraft. approximately Mach 2 in 25 years or less—perhaps a lot NASA’s Aerospace Technology Enterprise has estab- less, with an aggressive technology development program lished 10 technology goals, one of which is to cut in half the focused on smaller supersonic aircraft, because goals in time it takes to travel from the United States to the Far East many critical areas would be easier to achieve with smaller and Europe. Achieving this objective will require new tech- aircraft. However, it may take longer to overcome the more nology to improve the performance and affordability of su- difficult technological and environmental challenges associ- personic aircraft while meeting public expectations related ated with building a large commercial supersonic aircraft to safety, noise, and engine emissions. Advanced research with a cruise speed in excess of approximately Mach 2. and technology are also needed to establish the feasibility of This study benefited from a high level of public interest. reducing sonic boom sufficiently to allow sustained super- Many individuals from interested organizations attended the sonic commercial flight over land—a capability that would committee’s information-gathering meetings, which in- greatly enhance the utility and economic viability of super- cluded opportunities for public input. This broad participa- sonic aircraft. tion made an important contribution to the committee’s de- The National Research Council (NRC) was commis- liberations, and the committee is indebted to everyone who sioned by NASA to conduct an 18-month study to identify gave of their time and talent at the meetings. breakthrough technologies for overcoming key barriers to This report has been reviewed in draft form by individu- the development of an environmentally acceptable and eco- als chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical exper- nomically viable commercial supersonic aircraft. The NRC tise, in accordance with procedures approved by the NRC’s subsequently established the Committee on Breakthrough Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent Technology for Commercial Supersonic Aircraft. The study review is to provide candid and critical comments that will committee met four times between October 2000 and March assist the institution in making its published report as sound 2001 and also had other ancillary visits and teleconferences as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional to collect relevant information, identify and assess alterna- standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to tive technologies, and generate a list of appropriate findings, the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript conclusions, and recommendations. As detailed herein, the remain confidential to protect the integrity of the delibera- vii viii PREFACE tive process. We wish to thank the following individuals for see the final draft of the report before its release. The review their review of this report: of this report was overseen by Raymond S. Colladay, RC Space Enterprises, Inc. Appointed by the National Linden Blue, General Atomics, Research Council, he was responsible for making certain that Michael Hudson, Rolls-Royce North America, an independent examination of this report was carried out in Antony Jameson, Stanford University, accordance with institutional procedures and that all review Ira Kuhn, Directed Technologies, Inc., comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the Kenneth Plotkin, Wyle Laboratories, and final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring William Sirignano, University of California, Irvine committee and the institution. Although the reviewers listed above have provided many Dianne S. Wiley, Chair constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked Committee on Breakthrough Technology to endorse the conclusions or recommendations nor did they for Commercial Supersonic Aircraft Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 1 INTRODUCTION 6 Statement of Task and Study Approach, 6 Background, 8 References, 9 2 TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES 10 Customer Requirements, 10 Vehicle Characteristics and Economic Goals, 11 Environmental Goals, 13 Technology Challenges, 15 References, 16 3 NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH ON CRITICAL SUPERSONIC TECHNOLOGIES 17 Configurations for Reduced Sonic Boom, 17 Advanced Aerodynamic Concepts and Configurations, 18 Vehicle Dynamics and Control, 21 High-Fidelity Integrated Design Tools, 23 Variable Cycle Engines, 25 References, 25 4 AREAS NEEDING CONTINUED TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT 27 Propulsion Emissions and Noise, 27 Propulsion Materials, 33 Airframe Materials and Structures, 35 Cockpit Sensors and Displays, 37 In-Flight Safety, 38 Certification, 39 References, 39 5 FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS 41 Closing Remarks, 43 Reference, 43 ix
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