Conceptual Aircraft Design

5Bodies – Fuselages, Nacelle Pods, Intakes and the Associated Systems

5.1 Overview

The last chapter dealt with the pertinent aspects of the planar 3D geometries of wing design considerations. This chapter follows up with the design considerations of 3D geometries for bodies, for example, the fuselage, nacelle pods and items integral to them. The aim is to shape objects in a teardrop‐like streamlined geometry that will minimise drag generation. The purpose of such bodies is to accommodate payload, consumables, equipment and so on, and produce very little lift. Some of the bodies house engines as nacelle pods with integrated engine intake and exhaust ducts, hence they are included in this chapter. The aim is still the same; that is, to shape object in a teardrop streamlined geometry that will minimise drag generation. Bodies of revolution offer a destabilising moment. Care must be taken to keep it at an acceptable level. Making an aircraft streamlined also makes it look elegant. With engines inside the fuselage, combat aircraft have their air intake as part of the fuselage and this is dealt with in this chapter.

Some dominant geometries of fuselage, nacelles, and other bodies along with the design data are presented in order to suggest possible choices available to configure new aircraft designs and arrive at a concept definition. No analytical optimisation is carried out here as these are beyond the scope of this book. In industry, Cockpit/Flight Decks (CFDs) are used throughout ...