Computational simulation of gas turbines: Part 1 - Foundations of component-based models

Designing and developing new aerospace propulsion systems is time-consuming and expensive. Computational simulation is a promising means for alleviati ng this cost, but requires a flexible software simulation system capable of integrating advanced multidisciplinary and multifidelity analysis methods, dynamically constructing arbitrary simulation models, and distributing com putationally complex tasks. To address these issues, we have developed Onyx , a Java-based object-oriented domain framework for aerospace propulsion sy stem simulation. This paper presents the design of a common engineering mod el formalism for use in Onyx. This approach, which is based on hierarchical decomposition for gas turbine systems, subsystems and components. It allow s new models to be composed programmatically or visually to form more compl ex models. Onyx's common engineering model also supports integration of a h ierarchy of models which represent the system at differing levels of abstra ction. Selection of a particular model is based on a number of criteria, in cluding the level of detail needed, the objective of the simulation, the av ailable knowledge, and given resources. The common engineering model approa ch is demonstrated by developing gas turbine component models which will be used to compose a gas turbine engine model in Part 2 of this paper. [S0742 -4795 (00)02303-6].