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Aerodynamic Shape Optimization by Physics-Based Surrogates

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Surrogate-based aerodynamic shape optimisation

EU-funded researchers have developed tools to solve aerodynamic shape optimisation problems at a lower computational cost using surrogate models in the place of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) algorithms.

Industrial Technologies icon Industrial Technologies

The computational cost of performing numerical simulations for designing aircraft components is continuously increasing. The fundamental problem is to design wings or blades with the maximum aerodynamic efficiency for a given set of operating conditions while fulfilling manufacturing as well as financial constraints. In the conceptual design phase, low-fidelity simulations are typically used to investigate different concepts. However, in the preliminary and detailed design phase, computationally expensive and higher-fidelity simulations are needed as the search space where the optimal solution lies is reduced. Specifically, robust techniques for both computational fluid flow analysis and optimisation are essential to improve design efficiency. The EU-funded project ASOPBS (Aerodynamic shape optimization by physics-based surrogates) focused on aerodynamic shape optimisation. The aim was to propose methodologies and algorithms that can be coupled with high-fidelity CFD simulators. Surrogate-based optimisation offered an attractive alternative with a much lower computational cost for both 2D and 3D aerodynamic surfaces. Researchers adopted surrogate-based optimisation for both geometry and physics modelling. More importantly, they implemented all design procedures in a single computational framework that ensures seamless data streams between optimisation algorithms and low- or high-fidelity models. ASOPBS developed the software 'Engineering Optimisation and Modelling Centre-Computational Fluid Dynamics' (EOMC-CFD). This was subjected to extensive verification tests. For this purpose, benchmarked problems involving 2D and 3D cases for subsonic and transonic conditions were used. Before the completion of the ASOPBS project in 2015, EOMC-CFD was successfully extended to cover finite element methods for the design and optimisation of aircraft mechanical and structural elements. Potential applications also include prosthetic products as evidenced by a collaboration with a prosthetic company.

Keywords

Aerodynamic, surrogate model, computational fluid dynamics, aircraft, ASOPBS, EOMC-CFD

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