A Multifidelity and Multidisciplinary Optimization Framework for Mission-Based Rocket Design

The exponential cost escalation associated with design changes throughout the aerospace development cycle necessitates sophisticated optimization frameworks capable of exploring comprehensive design spaces early in the development process. This economic imperative, where design modifications can cost orders of magnitude more in later development phases, drives the need for advanced methodologies that can identify optimal solutions while maintaining computational tractability. This research develops an innovative multifidelity and multidisciplinary framework for mission-based rocket design optimization that strategically balances computational efficiency with engineering accuracy. The methodology implements a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach that integrates various physics domains required for trajectory analysis, propulsion systems, structural mechanics, and control systems, creating a holistic optimization environment. With trajectory specifications serving as input to the control system, this approach extends beyond aeroelasticity to encompass robust guidance, navigation, and control systems that effectively manage disturbances while maintaining optimal trajectory performance. This integration of multiple vehicle dynamics models with control system design ensures mission robustness under varying flight conditions, allowing the optimization to simultaneously refine structural parameters and control strategies in response to the target trajectory requirements. The proposed methodology leverages two complementary fidelity levels: a computationally efficient approach utilizing semi-empirical models for broad design space exploration, coupled with targeted high-fidelity analyses using aeroelastic models combining FEM and CFD for final design refinement. This hierarchical strategy enables mission driven optimization where specific performance requirements directly shape the design process from the global shape to detailed component design. The multifidelity approach ensures reliable optimization-driven design while maintaining optimal computational cost, making complex aerospace design problems tractable within reasonable timeframes. A distinguishing feature of this work is its commitment to open-source development, establishing a baseline for collaborative advancement. This transparency ensures reproducibility and creates opportunities for community-driven innovation across the aerospace research ecosystem. The framework is deliberately designed with a modular architecture that facilitates adaptation and extension to various mission scenarios and evolving computational capabilities. The framework’s extensibility enables integration of additional physics domains such as electromagnetic interactions, thermal management, and advanced shape optimization techniques, providing a scalable foundation for next-generation aerospace design challenges. This approach aligns with the trajectory of increasing computational power, allowing for seamless integration of more sophisticated models as they become computationally viable. As part of an academic NATO panel on multifidelity and multidisciplinary optimization in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde, this research represents a prototype case study demonstrating the practical application of these advanced methodologies. The methodology is validated using a real-world mission scenario derived from the Team Icarus competition conditions, establishing a foundation for subsequent experimental testing and validation.