Aerodynamics and Propulsive Efficiency of a Blended-Wing-Body Aircraft with Distributed Propulsion System During Takeoff

A blended-wing-body aircraft with distributed propulsion system is a new design concept proposed in recent years to achieve the N + 3 goal. Distributed engines can be embedded on different positions on the upper surface of the aircraft due to its smaller size compared with the traditional engines. Different installation positions can influence not only the aerodynamic characteristics but also the engine performance, especially during the off-design conditions such as takeoff condition. Thus, a propulsion/airframe integration analysis method was developed to calculate the performance of several configurations with different engine positions at takeoff condition. We found that there is strong coupling between the aerodynamics and propulsion efficiency, and that the span position of the propulsion system has more significant effects on the performance of the aircraft compared with its chord position.