scholarly journals Aerodynamic Shape Optimisation of a Camber Morphing Airfoil and Noise Estimation

Aerospace ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Robert Valldosera Martinez ◽  
Frederico Afonso ◽  
Fernando Lau

In order to decrease the emitted airframe noise by a two-dimensional high-lift configuration during take-off and landing performance, a morphing airfoil has been designed through a shape design optimisation procedure starting from a baseline airfoil (NLR 7301), with the aim of emulating a high-lift configuration in terms of aerodynamic performance. A methodology has been implemented to accomplish such aerodynamic improvements by means of the compressible steady RANS equations at a certain angle of attack, with the objective of maximising its lift coefficient up to equivalent values regarding the high-lift configuration, whilst respecting the imposed structural constraints to guarantee a realistic optimised design. For such purposes, a gradient-based optimisation through the discrete adjoint method has been undertaken. Once the optimised airfoil is achieved, unsteady simulations have been carried out to obtain surface pressure distributions along a certain time-span to later serve as the input data for the aeroacoustic prediction framework, based on the Farassat 1A formulation, where the subsequent results for both configurations are post-processed to allow for a comparative analysis. Conclusively, the morphing airfoil has proven to be advantageous in terms of aeroacoustics, in which the noise has been reduced with respect to the conventional high-lift configuration for a comparable lift coefficient, despite being hampered by a significant drag coefficient increase due to stall on the morphing airfoil’s trailing edge.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
S. Shitrit

Abstract The aerodynamic performance of conventional aircraft configurations are mainly affected by the wing and horizontal tail. Drag reduction by shape optimisation of the wing, while taking into account the aircraft trimmed constraint, has more benefit than focusing solely on the wing. So in order to evaluate this approach, the following study presents results of a single and multipoint aerodynamic shape optimisation of the wing-body-tail configuration, defined by the Aerodynamic Design Discussion Group (ADODG). Most of the aerodynamic shape optimisation problems published in the last years are focused mainly on the wing as the main driver for performance improvement, with no trim constraint and/or excess drag obtained from the fuselage, fins or other parts. This work partially fills this gap by an investigation of RANS-based aerodynamic optimisation for transonic trimmed flight. Mesh warping and geometry parametrisation is accomplished by fitting the multi-block structured grid to a B-spline volumes and performing the mesh movement by using surface control points embedded within the free-form deformation (FFD) volumes. A gradient-based optimisation algorithm is used with an adjoint method in order to compute the derivatives of the objective and constraint functions with respect to the design variables. In this work the aerodynamic shape optimisation of the CRM wing-body-tail configuration is investigated, including a trim constraint that is satisfied by rotating the horizontal tail. The shape optimisation is driven by 432 design variables that envelope the wing surface, and 120 shape variables for the tail, as well as the angle of attack and tail rotation angles. The constraints are the lift coefficient, wing’s thickness controlled by 1,000 control points, and the wing’s volume. For the untrimmed configuration the drag coefficient is reduced by 5.76%. Optimising the wing with a trim condition by tail rotation results in shock-free design with a considerably improved drag, even better than the untrimmed-optimised case. The second optimisation problem studied is a single and multi-point lift constraint drag minimisation of a gliding configuration wing in transonic viscous flow. The shock is eliminated, reducing the drag of the untrimmed configuration by more than 60%, using 192 design variables. Further robustness is achieved through a multi-point optimisation with more than 45% drag reduction.


2016 ◽  
Vol 800 ◽  
pp. 72-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Semaan ◽  
Pradeep Kumar ◽  
Marco Burnazzi ◽  
Gilles Tissot ◽  
Laurent Cordier ◽  
...  

We propose a hierarchy of low-dimensional proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) models for the transient and post-transient flow around a high-lift airfoil with unsteady Coanda blowing over the trailing edge. The modal expansion comprises actuation modes as a lifting method for wall actuation following Graham et al. (Intl J. Numer. Meth. Engng, vol. 44 (7), 1999, pp. 945–972) and Kasnakoğlu et al. (Intl J. Control, vol. 81 (9), 2008, pp. 1475–1492). A novel element is separate actuation modes for different frequencies. The structure of the dynamic model rests on a Galerkin projection using the Navier–Stokes equations, simplifying mean-field considerations, and a stochastic term representing the background turbulence. The model parameters are identified with a data assimilation (4D-Var) method. We propose a model hierarchy from a linear oscillator explaining the suppression of vortex shedding by blowing to a fully nonlinear model resolving unactuated and actuated transients with steady and high-frequency modulation of blowing. The models’ accuracy is assessed through the mode amplitudes and an estimator for the lift coefficient. The robustness of the model is physically justified, and then observed for the training and the validation dataset.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (143) ◽  
pp. 20170933 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Jardin ◽  
T. Colonius

Lentink & Dickinson (2009 J. Exp. Biol. 212 , 2705–2719. ( doi:10.1242/jeb.022269 )) showed that rotational acceleration stabilized the leading-edge vortex on revolving, low aspect ratio (AR) wings and hypothesized that a Rossby number of around 3, which is achieved during each half-stroke for a variety of hovering insects, seeds and birds, represents a convergent high-lift solution across a range of scales in nature. Subsequent work has verified that, in particular, the Coriolis acceleration plays a key role in LEV stabilization. Implicit in these results is that there exists an optimal AR for wings revolving about their root, because it is otherwise unclear why, apart from possible morphological reasons, the convergent solution would not occur for an even lower Rossby number. We perform direct numerical simulations of the flow past revolving wings where we vary the AR and Rossby numbers independently by displacing the wing root from the axis of rotation. We show that the optimal lift coefficient represents a compromise between competing trends with competing time scales where the coefficient of lift increases monotonically with AR, holding Rossby number constant, but decreases monotonically with Rossby number, when holding AR constant. For wings revolving about their root, this favours wings of AR between 3 and 4.


Author(s):  
B. D. Vick ◽  
W. Wrigglesworth ◽  
L. B. Scott ◽  
K. M. Ragsdell

Abstract A method has been developed and is demonstrated which determines the chord and twist distribution for a wind turbine with maximum power coefficient. Only small wind turbines (less than 10 kilowatts) are considered in this study, but the method could be used for larger wind turbines. Glauert determined a method for estimating the chord and twist distribution that will maximize the power coefficient if there is no drag. However, the method proposed here determines the chord and twist distribution which will maximize the power coefficient with the effect of drag included. Including drag in the analysis does not significantly affect the Glauert chord and twist distribution for airfoils with a high lift coefficient at the maximum lift to drag ratio. However, if the airfoil has a fairly low lift coefficient at its maximum lift to drag ratio due to its shape or a rough surface then significant improvement can be obtained in power coefficient by altering the Glauert chord and twist distribution according to the method proposed herein.


Fluids ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Su ◽  
Kaixuan Zhang ◽  
Juan Zheng ◽  
Yong Zhao ◽  
Ruiqi Han ◽  
...  

In the paper, a novel flapping mode is presented that can generate high lift force by a dragonfly wing in hover. The new mode, named partial advanced mode (PAM), starts pitching earlier than symmetric rotation during the downstroke cycle of the hovering motion. As a result, high lift force can be generated due to rapid pitching coupling with high flapping velocity in the stroke plane. Aerodynamic performance of the new mode is investigated thoroughly using numerical simulation. The results obtained show that the period-averaged lift coefficient, CL, increases up to 16% compared with that of the traditional symmetrical mode when an earlier pitching time is set to 8% of the flapping period. The reason for the high lift force generation mechanism is explained in detail using not only force investigation, but also by analyzing vortices produced around the wing. The proposed PAM is believed to lengthen the dynamic stall mechanism and enhance the LEV generated during the downstroke. The improvement of lift force could be considered as a result of a combination of the dynamic stall mechanism and rapid pitch mechanism. Finally, the energy expenditure of the new mode is also analyzed.


1. A great deal of attention has been directed of late years to the development of a rational theory of the aёrofoil. Prof. L. Prandtl and others in Germany have applied the principles of the hydrodynamics of a perfect fluid to the aerofoil with remarkable results, whilst investigators in this country have extended this work and have verified experimentally many of the deductions of the Prandtl theory. The assumptions underlying the work of Prandtl are, however, of uncertain validity, and it has become a matter of great importance to add to existing experimental evidence of the fundamental characteristics of the motion of a viscous fluid round an aёrofoil. With this purpose in view an aerofoil section of fairly high lift coefficient was selected, and a model of it tested in the Duplex Tunnel at the National Physical Laboratory, the field of flow being thoroughly explored with a wind-velocity meter. At the same time the theoretical stream-lines corresponding to inviscid fluid flow were determined experimentally, as described in Part II of this paper. The case considered is that of an aerofoil of infinite span, the flow being two-dimensional. A comparison was made of the theoretical and experimental distributions of pressure over the surface of the aёrofoil, as well as of the two sets of superposed stream-lines. The work has provided an experimental verification of the law of Kutta and Joukowsky, that the product of the mean velocity and density of the fluid and of the circulation (according to the hydrodynamical definition of this term) around a contour enclosing the aerofoil is equal to the lift of the aёrofoil (per unit length). It has further shown that the circulation around the aёrofoil is constant within the limits of experimental error and independent of the contour of integration chosen, provided that the contour line does not at any part approach too near to the aerofoil, and also that it cuts the trailing “wake” approximately at right angles to its core. The lowest value of the circulation found (calculated for a contour as close to the aёrofoil surface as the observations permitted) was about 6½ per cent, less than the value corresponding to the lift coefficient; this is hardly outside the limits of experimental accuracy in the neighbourhood of the aёrofoil.


Author(s):  
Vincenzo Russo ◽  
Simone Orsenigo ◽  
Lasse Mueller ◽  
Tom Verstraete ◽  
Sergio Lavagnoli

Abstract This work presents a 2D optimization of a multi-body turbine vane frame (TVF), a particular configuration that can lead to considerable shortening of the aero-engine shaft as well as weight reduction. Traditionally, the turbine vane frame is used to guide the flow from the high pressure (HP) turbine to the low pressure (LP) turbine. Current designs have a mid turbine frame equipped with non lifting bodies that have structural and servicing functions, while multi-body configurations are characterized by the fact that, in order to shorten the duct length, the mid turbine struts are merged with the LP stator vanes, traditionally located downstream. This design architecture consists therefore of a multi-body vane row, where lifting long-chord struts replace some of the low pressure vane airfoils. However, the bulky struts cause significant aerodynamics losses and penalize the aerodynamics of the small vanes. The objective of the present work is to numerically optimize a TVF geometry with multi-body architecture using a gradient based algorithm coupled with the adjoint approach, enabling the use of a rich design space. Steady-state CFD simulations have been used to this end. The aim of this study is to reduce the total pressure losses of the TVF, while imposing several aerodynamic and structural constraints. The parametrization of the TVF geometry represents the airfoil shapes and their relative pitch-wise positions. The outcome of the optimization is to evaluate the potential improvements introduced by the optimized TVF geometry and to quantify the influence of the different design parameters on the total pressure losses.


Author(s):  
Andre C. Marta ◽  
Sriram Shankaran ◽  
D. Graham Holmes ◽  
Alexander Stein

High-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are common practice in turbomachinery design. Typically, several cases are run with manually modified parameters based on designer expertise to fine-tune a machine. Although successful, a more efficient process is desired. Choosing a gradient-based optimization approach, the gradients of the functions of interest need to be estimated. When the number of variables greatly exceeds the number of functions, the adjoint method is the best-suited approach to efficiently estimate gradients. Until recently, the development of CFD adjoint solvers was regarded as complex and difficult, which limited their use mostly to academia. This paper focuses on the problem of developing adjoint solvers for legacy industrial CFD solvers. A discrete adjoint solver is derived with the aid of an automatic differentiation tool that is selectively applied to the CFD code that handles the residual and function evaluations. The adjoint-based gradients are validated against finite-difference and complex-step derivative approximations.


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