Aerodynamic and Structural Enhancement Strategies for Modern Aircraft Fuselage Design

The design of an aircraft fuselage has a decisive influence on aerodynamic performance and structural efficiency. It is one of the most important components in the overall design of an aircraft. The fuselage is the central structure that supports the connection points of the cabin modules, systems, and the major attachment points. And the fuselage contributes substantially to parasitic drag and plays an essential role in flight stability. Traditional fuselages generally adopt a nearly cylindrical shape and metallic semi-monocoque structure. However, this mature design still has many limitations in terms of aerodynamics and structure, such as elevated pressure drag, aft-body flow separation, interference near wing-body junctions, and material fatigue induced by pressurization cycles. With the development of computational fluid dynamics, high-performance materials, and advanced manufacturing technologies, more refined fuselage optimization designs have become possible. By examining pressure distribution, boundary-layer behavior, and drag mechanisms, targeted improvements can be introduced to the nose, mid-body, and aft-body shapes to reduce aerodynamic losses. Meanwhile, methods such as composite material structures, laminar flow control technology, and bionic surfaces have demonstrated obvious advantages in further weight reduction and resistance reduction. This study summarizes the basic principles of fuselage design, discusses the limitations of traditional schemes, and evaluates various modern aerodynamic and structural improvement methods, offering some references for the development of future fuselage concepts.