Two-Way Coupled Aero-Structural Optimization of Stable Flying Wings
An aero-structural algorithm to optimize a flying wing in cruise conditions for preliminary design is developed using two-way interaction between the structure and aerodynamics. A particle swarm routine is employed to solve the multi-objective optimization, aiming to reduce the weight of the structu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-04-01
|
| Series: | Aerospace |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/10/4/346 |
| _version_ | 1797606888704049152 |
|---|---|
| author | José D. Hoyos Camilo Echavarría Juan P. Alvarado Gustavo Suárez Juliana A. Niño Jorge I. García |
| author_facet | José D. Hoyos Camilo Echavarría Juan P. Alvarado Gustavo Suárez Juliana A. Niño Jorge I. García |
| author_sort | José D. Hoyos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An aero-structural algorithm to optimize a flying wing in cruise conditions for preliminary design is developed using two-way interaction between the structure and aerodynamics. A particle swarm routine is employed to solve the multi-objective optimization, aiming to reduce the weight of the structure and the aerodynamic drag at the design point. Different shapes are evaluated during the optimization process until the algorithm reaches the optimal wing aspect ratio, taper ratio, angle of incidence, twist angle, swept angle, and airfoil shape, where a six-parameters method is employed to allow reflex airfoils. A main isotropic I-beam models the wing structure. An extended vortex lattice model is employed to model the aerodynamics, along with a high-order panel method with fully coupled viscous interaction. The finite element method is used to solve the flying-wing structure under static loads. An algorithm is developed to iterate between the deflection of the wing and its impact on the aerodynamics until convergence is reached. Different constraints are implemented into the objective function to fulfil the structural criteria and the longitudinal static stability. A comparison against a baseline optimization is carried out, achieving higher efficiency and promising results in elliptical lift distribution, and a high static margin, without the use of non-constant twist. The results suggest that combining both reflex airfoils and sweep with washout is the optimal solution to reduce the drag and weight, keeping the longitudinal static stability criteria for tailless aircraft in the lower end of the transonic regime. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:21:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-db2d6fbdab174b45b5ad76e05f6ee081 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2226-4310 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:21:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerospace |
| spelling | doaj.art-db2d6fbdab174b45b5ad76e05f6ee0812023-11-17T17:52:12ZengMDPI AGAerospace2226-43102023-04-0110434610.3390/aerospace10040346Two-Way Coupled Aero-Structural Optimization of Stable Flying WingsJosé D. Hoyos0Camilo Echavarría1Juan P. Alvarado2Gustavo Suárez3Juliana A. Niño4Jorge I. García5School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USAFaculty of Aeronautical Engineering, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín 050031, ColombiaFaculty of Aeronautical Engineering, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín 050031, ColombiaGrupo de Investigación e Innovación en Energía, Institución Universitaria Pascual Bravo, Medellín 050034, ColombiaFaculty of Aeronautical Engineering, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín 050031, ColombiaFaculty of Aeronautical Engineering, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín 050031, ColombiaAn aero-structural algorithm to optimize a flying wing in cruise conditions for preliminary design is developed using two-way interaction between the structure and aerodynamics. A particle swarm routine is employed to solve the multi-objective optimization, aiming to reduce the weight of the structure and the aerodynamic drag at the design point. Different shapes are evaluated during the optimization process until the algorithm reaches the optimal wing aspect ratio, taper ratio, angle of incidence, twist angle, swept angle, and airfoil shape, where a six-parameters method is employed to allow reflex airfoils. A main isotropic I-beam models the wing structure. An extended vortex lattice model is employed to model the aerodynamics, along with a high-order panel method with fully coupled viscous interaction. The finite element method is used to solve the flying-wing structure under static loads. An algorithm is developed to iterate between the deflection of the wing and its impact on the aerodynamics until convergence is reached. Different constraints are implemented into the objective function to fulfil the structural criteria and the longitudinal static stability. A comparison against a baseline optimization is carried out, achieving higher efficiency and promising results in elliptical lift distribution, and a high static margin, without the use of non-constant twist. The results suggest that combining both reflex airfoils and sweep with washout is the optimal solution to reduce the drag and weight, keeping the longitudinal static stability criteria for tailless aircraft in the lower end of the transonic regime.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/10/4/346multi-objective optimizationmultidisciplinary optimizationparticle swarm optimizationaero-structural optimizationflying wingtailless aircraft |
| spellingShingle | José D. Hoyos Camilo Echavarría Juan P. Alvarado Gustavo Suárez Juliana A. Niño Jorge I. García Two-Way Coupled Aero-Structural Optimization of Stable Flying Wings Aerospace multi-objective optimization multidisciplinary optimization particle swarm optimization aero-structural optimization flying wing tailless aircraft |
| title | Two-Way Coupled Aero-Structural Optimization of Stable Flying Wings |
| title_full | Two-Way Coupled Aero-Structural Optimization of Stable Flying Wings |
| title_fullStr | Two-Way Coupled Aero-Structural Optimization of Stable Flying Wings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Two-Way Coupled Aero-Structural Optimization of Stable Flying Wings |
| title_short | Two-Way Coupled Aero-Structural Optimization of Stable Flying Wings |
| title_sort | two way coupled aero structural optimization of stable flying wings |
| topic | multi-objective optimization multidisciplinary optimization particle swarm optimization aero-structural optimization flying wing tailless aircraft |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/10/4/346 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT josedhoyos twowaycoupledaerostructuraloptimizationofstableflyingwings AT camiloechavarria twowaycoupledaerostructuraloptimizationofstableflyingwings AT juanpalvarado twowaycoupledaerostructuraloptimizationofstableflyingwings AT gustavosuarez twowaycoupledaerostructuraloptimizationofstableflyingwings AT julianaanino twowaycoupledaerostructuraloptimizationofstableflyingwings AT jorgeigarcia twowaycoupledaerostructuraloptimizationofstableflyingwings |