MAPLA

The semi-empirical analysis program MAPLA was devised for the optimization of small, general aviation aircraft. The original implementation includes five disciplines: aerodynamics, propulsion, performance, weight and balance as well as stability and control; all built with state-of-the-art analytical procedures and design data collections combined into a fully automated method.

In a series of previous investigations, this tool was demonstrated to be capable of modelling the characteristics of small conventional and eVTOL aircraft with acceptable precision [1-9]. In these works, MDO strategies for both deterministic approaches and MDO under uncertainties were applied.

* Download MAPLA (Email me for access)

1. Rostami M, Bardin J, Neufeld D, Chung J. Small aircraft flight trajectory optimisation using a multidisciplinary approach. The Aeronautical Journal. Published online 2025:1-19. doi:10.1017/aer.2024.126

2. Rostami, M. Propeller Effects and Elasticity in Aerodynamic Analysis of Small Propeller-Driven Aircraft and UAVs. Aerospace, 2024, 11(8), 664. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace11080664

3. Oyama, Y., Rostami, M. and Chung, J. Conceptual design and analysis of a box fan-in-split-wing tiltrotor eVTOL aircraft. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology 96, no. 9, 2024: 1139-1151. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-06-2023-0167

4. Rostami M., Bardin J., Neufeld D., Chung J. EVTOL Tilt-Wing Aircraft Design under Uncertainty Using a Multidisciplinary Possibilistic Approach. Aerospace. 2023; 10(8):718. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10080718

5. Rostami, M.; Bardin, J.; Neufeld, D.; and Chung, J. “A Multidisciplinary Possibilistic Approach to Size the Empennage of Multi-Engine Propeller-Driven Light Aircraft.” Aerospace, 9, 3, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace9030160.

6. Rostami, M.; Chung, J.; Park, H.U. Design Optimization of Multi-Objective Proportional–Integral–Derivative Controllers for Enhanced Handling Quality of a Twin-Engine, Propeller-Driven Airplane. Adv. Mech. Eng. 2020, 12, 1687814020923178. https://doi.org/10.1177/1687814020923178.

7. Rostami, M.; Chung, J.; Neufeld, D. Vertical Tail Sizing of Propeller-Driven Aircraft Considering the Asymmetric Blade Effect. Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. Part G: J. Aerosp. Eng. 2021, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/09544100211029450.

8. Rostami, M.; Chung, J. Multidisciplinary Analysis Program for Light Aircraft (MAPLA). In Proceedings of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering International Congress, Charlottetown, PE, Canada, 27–30 June 2021.

9. Rostami, M.; Bagherzadeh, S.A. Development and Validation of an Enhanced Semi-Empirical Method for Estimation of Aerodynamic Characteristics of Light, Propeller-Driven Airplanes. Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. Part G: J. Aerosp. Eng. 2018, 232, 638–648. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954410016683415.

Aerodynamics

The Aerodynamics module consists of longitudinal and lateral-directional subprograms. In each subprogram, power-off static stability and control derivatives are individually estimated for various aircraft components including the wing, fuselage, nacelle, horizontal tail, vertical tail and high-lift surfaces.

Propulsion

The Propulsion module provides analysis related to the propeller effects on the aircraft design and engine specs. Considering the propeller effect analysis, an engineering approach was proposed to analyze the asymmetric blade thrust effect with the help of analytical and semi-empirical methods.

performance

The Performance module provides information about the mission performance of the aircraft similar to the typical performance section of an aircraft pilot operating manual.

Flying quality

The Flying Quality subprogram models the aircraft trim characteristics for all flight conditions and aircraft configurations.

derivatives sensitivity

The Sensitivity subprogram provides sensitivity analysis for different aerodynamic characteristics and flight conditions in longitudinal and lateral-directional modes.

flight simulation

The Flight Simulation module provides six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) of the aircraft, as well as trimming calculations and the generation of a linearized model for all flight conditions.

Email: info@mohsenrostami.com