Design Studies
Electric Air Taxi Concept System-Level MDO
First-of-its-kind demonstration of large-scale MDO
7 disciplines contributing design variables to system-level optimization
102 design variables; 19 constraints
Low-fidelity physics-based analysis methods
Turnaround time of ~30 minutes on a standard design computer
11.4% lower mass from a baseline sized vehicle
Funding: NASA University Leadership Initiative (ULI)
Role: Postdoctoral scholar working with PI Dr. John Hwang
Select Publication
Sarojini, D., Ruh, M. L., Joshy, A. J., Yan, J., Ivanov, A. K., Scotzniovsky, L., ... & Hwang, J. T. (2023). Large-Scale Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of an eVTOL Aircraft using Comprehensive Analysis. In AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum (p. 0146). [Download from ResearchGate]
Structural Design Space Exploration of PEGASUS and TBW Concepts
No other work has shown the effect of high-level OML, engine, and structural layout variables on the structural weight
PEGASUS concept
Obtained a structural layout that is least sensitivities to gust loads specified by 14-CFR regulations.
Truss-braced wing (TBW) concept
Obtained the location of strut-wing attachment that results in the least overall primary structure weight.
Funding: NASA Transformational Tools and Technologies (TTT)
Role: Ph.D. thesis work; collaborator on Ph.D. thesis of David Solano
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Solano, H. D., Sarojini, D., & Mavris, D. N. (2023). Computationally Efficient Analysis and Sizing of the PEGASUS and Truss-Braced Wing Structures Subjected to Dynamic Loads. In AIAA AVIATION 2023 Forum (p. 3943). [Download from ResearchGate]
Certification-Driven MDO of Aircraft
Capture trade-off between performance and certification constraints
14-CFR Part 25 SubPart B Flight Characteristics
14-CFR Part 25 SubPart C Structures
Retrofit design of a Boeing 777-type aircraft horizontal tail
Redesign of NASA's PEGASUS concept vertical tail
Role: Collaborator on Ph.D. thesis of Jiacheng Xie
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Xie, J., Sarojini, D., Cai, Y., Corman, J. A., & Mavris, D. N. (2022). Certification-Driven Platform for Multidisciplinary Design Space Exploration in Airframe Preliminary Design. Journal of Aircraft, 59(2), 329-349. [Download from ResearchGate]
Reliability-Based Design of the X-57 Concept
Safety assessment framework to evaluate off-nominal performance and reliability
Bayesian decision framework to make a compliance assessment
Case study on the distributed electric propulsion (DEP) aircraft, X-57. Identified
Battery failure as a catastrophic scenario.
Loss of cruise motor or the traction power buses as the next most critical (Hazardous).
Role: Collaborator on Ph.D. thesis of Mayank Bendarkar
Select Publication
Bendarkar, M. V., Sarojini, D., & Mavris, D. N. (2022). Off-Nominal Performance and Reliability of Novel Aircraft Concepts During Early Design. Journal of Aircraft, 59(2), 400-414. [Download from ResearchGate]
Conceptual Aero-Structural Design of a Fan Stage under Distorted Flow
Representation of the fan blade as a higher-order beam model through the Variational Asymptotic Method (VAM)
First reported work of using the VAM for the transient structural analysis of fan rotor blades.
Rotor structural analysis comprises computing dynamic stresses, the excitation frequencies, and resonance margins at various modes of vibration
Capture trade-off between aerodynamic performance and structural constraints
Obtained a design that considers structural constraints with a decrease of aerodynamic stage efficiency of only 0.22%.
Role: Collaborator on Ph.D. thesis of Manish Pokhrel
Select Publication
Pokhrel, M., Sarojini, D., & Mavris, D. N. (2016). Conceptual aero-structural design of a fan stage under distorted flow. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 09544100231153910. [Download from ResearchGate]
