High resolution and high order methods for RANS modelling and aerodynamic optimization

Abstract

With the optimisation of fixed aerodynamic shapes reaching its limits, the active flow control concept increasingly attracts attention of both academia and industry. Adaptive wing technology, and shape morphing airfoils in particular, represents a promising way forward. The aerodynamic performance of the morphing profiles is an important issue affecting the overall aerodynamic performance of an adaptive wing. A new concept of active flow, the Active Camber concept has been investigated. The actuator is integrated into the aerofoil and aerofoil morphing is realized via camber deformation. In order to identify the most aerodynamically efficient designs, an optimisation study has been performed using high resolution methods in conjunction with a two equation eddy viscosity model. Several different types of previously proposed compressible filters, including monotone upstream-centered schemes for conservation laws (MUSCL) and weighted essential non-oscillatory (WENO) filters, are incorporated and investigated in the present research. The newly developed CFD solver is validated and the effect that high resolution methods have on turbulent flow simulations is highlighted. The outermost goal is the development of a robust high resolution CFD method that will efficiently and accurately simulate various phenomena, such as shock/boundary layer interaction, flow separation and turbulence and thus provide the numerical framework for analysis and aerodynamic aerofoil design. With respect to the latter a multi-objective integrated design system (MOBID) has been developed that incorporates the CFD solver and a state-of-the-art heuristic optimisation algorithm, along with an efficient parametrization technique and a fast and robust method of propagating geometric displacements. The methodologies in the MOBID system resulted in the identification of the design vectors that revealed aerodynamic performance gains over the datum aerofoil design. The Pareto front provided a clear picture of the achievable trade-offs between the competing objectives. Furthermore, the implementation of different numerical schemes led to significant differences in the optimised airfoil shape, thus highlighting the need for high-resolution methods in aerodynamic optimisation.