Capacity-based Arrival Sequencing and Trajectory Optimization for Continuous Descent Operations

Capacity-based Arrival Sequencing and Trajectory Optimization for Continuous Descent Operations

Janssen, Jaap (TU Delft Aerospace Engineering)

Roling, Paul (mentor)

Delft University of Technology

Aerospace Engineering

2019-12-06

Due to the rapid growth of air traffic and the corresponding increase in demanded landing capacity of airports, much research has been done on arrival scheduling and approach trajectory optimization aiming to not only maximize the effective runway throughput of an airports runway system but also significantly reduce fuel consumption. This thesis research considers both, arrival scheduling and approach trajectory optimization, as one combined optimization problem with the goal of balancing fuel-optimality and time-optimality based on the presently demanded runway throughput in a dynamic approach environment. A hybrid optimization tool is developed, solving the arrival scheduling problem by means of a sequential quadratic programming algorithm while solving the corresponding approach trajectories as an optimal control problem using a hp-adaptive Gaussian quadrature collocation method. Both optimization problems are linked through pre-computed aircraft-specific fuel curves, providing fuel information for each achievable landing time to base scheduling decisions on. The arrival optimization tool applies continuous descent approach procedures over a fixed lateral approach path. Further, the freeze horizon concept is applied which together with constrained position shifting confines the optimization problem down to a size that can be solved in real time. Compared to the currently prevailing first-come first-served scheduling method, a 14% increase in effective runway capacity was achieved consistently while a fuel reduction of 2.2-4.8%was achieved depending
on the tested average throughput.

Arrival Scheduling
Sequencing
Trajectory Optimization
Optimal Control
Continuous Descent Approach
Constrained Position Shifting
Capacity-based
Simultaneous Optimization

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:f483be8e-522b-473c-8e83-08cd514915f7

Student theses

master thesis

© 2019 Jaap Janssen