Multidisciplinary Conceptual Design Optimization of Manned Launch Vehicle Using Combined Algorithm

The purpose of this article is the conceptual design of a two-stage crew launch vehicle with side boosters. At first, in order to achieve a suitable design point, the statistical design technique is used, and then statistical design process is validated by using two degree of freedom simulation and doing energetic-mass calculations. Then, multidisciplinary design optimization approach is applied for initial conceptual design optimization. The preferred structure for multidisciplinary design optimization is all-at-once and Genetic Algorithm (GA) is used as the optimizer algorithm. In order to achieve more accuracy, Simplex method is employed using GA’s results as a combined algorithm. Having performed the optimization process, a mass decrease of about 4 tons from missile gross weight was attained with respect to normal simulation results, and as already known, the decrease in gross mass undeniably leads to a consequent decrease in the cost of producing and launching missiles.