Multi-Disciplinary Optimization of Very Flexible Structures
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Aeronautics
Abstract
TBC
Publications
Gomes P
(2020)
Aerodynamic-driven topology optimization of compliant airfoils
in Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization
Burghardt O
(2020)
Coupled Discrete Adjoints for Multiphysics in SU2
Gomes P
(2021)
Sustainable High-Performance Optimizations in SU2
Venkatesan-Crome C
(2019)
Optimal Compliant Airfoils Using Fully Non-Linear FSI Models
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509486/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/03/2022 | |||
| 2091038 | Studentship | EP/N509486/1 | 01/04/2018 | 31/07/2021 | Pedro Carrusca Gomes |
| Description | We were able to use topology optimization (a method of determining the layout of material for a structure) to design aeroelastic systems (e.g. a wing that deforms due to fluid forces) with specific properties, for example load alleviation at off-design conditions. We have proposed methods of reducing the computational cost associated with applying this method to fluid structure interaction problems, thereby allowing the use of higher fidelity modelling (of the underlying physics) which can improve the confidence in the numerical results obtained. The software tool used as the basis for this work (SU2) was substantially developed to make it suitable (faster and more robust) for larger scale problems. This resulted in a framework within this software that can be used to rapidly implement numerical methods taking advantage of all the capabilities of modern hardware. |
| Exploitation Route | The methods can be used to design models for wind tunnel testing with specific aeroelastic characteristics (good or bad) to then possibly develop control strategies from them. The software was made sufficiently general so that it can be applied to other types of problem, not just aeronautics, making the application to other fields of research possible. Now that it was shown that topology optimization can be used to design for aerodynamic (rather than only structural) performance, other, more advanced, topology optimization methods can be applied to tackle some challenges. For example, how to guarantee the resulting material distribution can be manufactured without subjecting the results to manual postprocessing that may change its performance. The secondary software developments will allow the development of new numerical schemes immediately taking advantage of modern hardware capabilities, this should accelerate their development and make better use of high performance computing facilities. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) |
| Description | Framework for multiphysics discrete adjoint based optimization |
| Organisation | Technical University Kaiserslautern |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Development of the framework to support fluid structure interaction (FSI) and aero-thermo-elasticity (FSI coupled with conjugate heat transfer). Efficiency improvements and development of stabilization methods to make the framework applicable to more challenging problems (e.g. larger scale, turbulence, etc.). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners (Ole Burghardt from https://www.scicomp.uni-kl.de/) created the initial framework in close collaboration with the developers of the algorithmic differentiation tool from his group. Initially having in mind conjugate heat transfer problems. |
| Impact | https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2020-3139 Currently waiting feedback from the journal of structural and multidisciplinary optimization. |
| Start Year | 2020 |