Using Response Surface Approximations to Cover Holes in the Design Space: Conceptual Design of a Missile

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate an innovative and practical technique in which multidisciplinary optimization can be carried out while there exist points in the design space for which a response cannot be evaluated. It will also be demonstrated how design of experiment and response surface approximations are used to eliminate other complications associated with optimization of large-scaled designs. A multidisciplinary highly coupled air-to-air sparrow like missile design problem will be introduced to demonstrate the practical side of design optimization. The intention here is to provide practical engineering recommendations to others attempting to optimize industrial type design problems.