Based on aerodynamics and fuel efficiency design. Nasa and Boeing are studying a concept design named Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW), belonging to the Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research program.

Boeing has a configuration with an outstanding aerodynamic flying within Mach 0.70 – 0.80 (Transonic), a competitive speed similar to airliners. The wing plane comprises a high aspect ratio (the ratio of the span to the mean chord of an aerofoil) and a braced structure. But all of this comes from subsonic predecessors like SUGAR, a hybrid aircraft.

Optimizations were presented to the wing and the truss providing aerodynamic aspects related to lifting and better performance. The characteristic configuration Truss-braced gives a high-wing design and has a wing measurement above 170 feet.

Nasa, Using Computational fluid dynamics, created important data from high-level calculations of the flow around the plane. In the image, you can see several colored areas on the entire airplane structure giving the information of drag in high impact and lower. Why is this important? All aerodynamic simulations provide a scene of similar conditions of the aerial vehicle in mid-flight. So, scientists analyzed the behavior of the air on the body, studying and planning the improvements to the aircraft.

Next to this studies the wind tunnel testing at NASA Ames Research Center helps to compared computational simulations and validated them.

Is It possible to see these concepts of new aircraft in the next years? Will the manufacturers start production of this new aircraft generation?

Sources:

http://www.boeing.com

http://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch

Cover photo:

Boeing.