scholarly journals Gradient-Based Aerodynamic Optimization of an Airfoil with Morphing Leading and Trailing Edges

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1929
Author(s):  
Zhenkai Zhang ◽  
Alessandro De Gaspari ◽  
Sergio Ricci ◽  
Chen Song ◽  
Chao Yang

This article presents a gradient-based aerodynamic optimization framework and investigates optimum deformations for a transonic airfoil equipped with morphing leading and trailing edges. Specifically, the proposed optimization framework integrates an innovative morphing shape parameterization with a high fidelity Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes computational fluid dynamic solver, a hybrid mesh deformation algorithm, and an efficient gradient evaluation method based on continuous adjoint implementation. To achieve a feasible morphing shape, some structural properties of skin and wing-box constraints were introduced into the morphing shape parameterization, which offers skin length control and enables wing-box shape invariance. In this study, the optimum leading and trailing edge deformations with minimization of drag at this cruise stage were searched for using the adjoint-based optimization with a nested feasible morphing procedure, subject to the wing-box, skin length, and airfoil volume constraints. The numerical studies verified the effectiveness of the optimization strategy, and demonstrated the significant aerodynamic performance improvement achieved by using the morphing devices. A lambda shock pattern was observed for the optimized morphing leading edge. That result further indicates the importance of leading edge radius control.

Author(s):  
Pothuri Venkateswara Rao ◽  
Govindaraju Venkata Ramana Murty ◽  
Ganapathiraju Venkata Rao

Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) analysis is conducted to improve the diffuser performance on an industrial centrifugal compressor stage. The present work is concentrated on twisted vaned diffusers(TVD) with different shapes like constant thickness flat plate (FP), cambered curved arc plate (CCAP), uncambered aerofoil (NACA 0010) and cambered aerofoil (NACA 2410). For constant thickness plates, the leading and trailing edges have been rounded to have a smooth entry and exit. The aerofoil diffuser vane is formed from a standard section profile with minor modifications at the trailing edge. The twist is given to the diffuser blade by rotation at its leading edge resulting in different stagger angles from hub to shroud. The analysis was conducted at an impeller tip Mach number of 0.35. The overall stage performance is evaluated in terms of head coefficient, stage efficiency, power coefficient of the stage and static pressure recovery coefficient of diffuser with varying flow coefficients. The TVD NACA 2410 provides best performance for the chosen compressor stage.


2015 ◽  
Vol 767 ◽  
pp. 430-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel B. Quinn ◽  
George V. Lauder ◽  
Alexander J. Smits

AbstractExperimental gradient-based optimization is used to maximize the propulsive efficiency of a heaving and pitching flexible panel. Optimum and near-optimum conditions are studied via direct force measurements and particle image velocimetry (PIV). The net thrust and power scale predictably with the frequency and amplitude of the leading edge, but the efficiency shows a complex multimodal response. Optimum pitch and heave motions are found to produce nearly twice the efficiencies of optimum heave-only motions. Efficiency is globally optimized when (i) the Strouhal number is within an optimal range that varies weakly with amplitude and boundary conditions; (ii) the panel is actuated at a resonant frequency of the fluid–panel system; (iii) heave amplitude is tuned such that trailing-edge amplitude is maximized while the flow along the body remains attached; and (iv) the maximum pitch angle and phase lag are chosen so that the effective angle of attack is minimized. The multi-dimensionality and multi-modality of the efficiency response demonstrate that experimental optimization is well-suited for the design of flexible underwater propulsors.


2017 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 444-456
Author(s):  
Lei Chen ◽  
Jiang Chen

Purpose This paper aims to conduct the optimization of the multi-stage gas turbine with the effect of the cooling air injection based on the adjoint method. Design/methodology/approach Continuous adjoint method is combined with the S2 surface code. Findings The optimization of the stagger angles, stacking lines and the passage can improve the attack angles and restrain the development of the boundary, reducing the secondary flow loss caused by the cooling air injection. Practical implications The aerodynamic performance of the gas turbine can be improved via the optimization of blade and passage based on the adjoint method. Originality/value The results of the first study on the adjoint method applied to the S2 surface through flow calculation including the cooling air effect are presented.


Author(s):  
Hao Sun ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Liming Song ◽  
Zhenping Feng

The non-axisymmetric endwall profiling has been proven to be an effective tool to reduce the secondary flow loss in turbomachinery. In this work, the aerodynamic optimization for the non-axisymmetric endwall profile of the turbine cascade and stage was presented and the design results were validated by annular cascade experimental measurements and numerical simulations. The parametric method of the non-axisymmetric endwall profile was proposed based on the relation between the pressure field variation and the secondary flow intensity. The optimization system combines with the non-axisymmetric endwall parameterization method, global optimization method of the adaptive range differential evolution algorithm and the aerodynamic performance evaluation method using three-dimensional Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and k–ω SST turbulent with transition model solutions. In the part I, the optimization method is used to design the optimum non-axisymmetric endwall profile of the typical high loaded turbine stator. The design objective was selected for the maximum total pressure coefficient with constrains on the mass flow rate and outlet flow angle. Only five design variables are needed for one endwall to search the optimum non-axisymmetric endwall profile. The optimized non-axisymmetric endwall profile of turbine cascade demonstrated an improvement of total pressure coefficient of 0.21% absolutely, comparing with the referenced axisymmetric endwall design case. The reliability of the numerical calculation used in the aerodynamic performance evaluation method and the optimization result were validated by the annular vane experimental measurements. The static pressure distribution at midspan was measured while the cascade flow field was measured with the five-hole probe for both the referenced axisymmetric and optimized non-axisymmetric endwall profile cascades. Both the experimental measurements and numerical simulations demonstrated that both the secondary flow losses and the profile loss of the optimized non-axisymmetric endwall profile cascade were significantly reduced by comparison of the referenced axisymmetric case. The weakening of the secondary flow of the optimized non-axisymmetric endwall profile design was also proven by the secondary flow vector results in the experiment. The detailed flow mechanism of the secondary flow losses reduction in the non-axisymmetric endwall profile cascade was analyzed by investigating the relation between the change of the pressure gradient and the variation of the secondary flow intensity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Lundgreen ◽  
D. Maynes ◽  
S. Gorrell ◽  
K. Oliphant

An inducer is used as the first stage of high suction performance pump. It pressurizes the fluid to delay the onset of cavitation, which can adversely affect performance in a centrifugal pump. In this paper, the performance of a water pump inducer has been explored with and without the implementation of a stability control device (SCD). This device is an inlet cover bleed system that removes high-energy fluid near the blade leading edge and reinjects it back upstream. The research was conducted by running multiphase, time-accurate computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations at the design flow coefficient and at low, off-design flow coefficients. The suction performance and stability for the same inducer with and without the implementation of the SCD has been explored. An improvement in stability and suction performance was observed when the SCD was implemented. Without the SCD, the inducer developed backflow at the blade tip, which led to rotating cavitation and larger rotordynamic forces. With the SCD, no significant cavitation instabilities developed, and the rotordynamic forces remained small. The lack of cavitation instabilities also allowed the inducer to operate at lower inlet pressures, increasing the suction performance of the inducer.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 175682931983367
Author(s):  
Carolyn M Reed ◽  
David A Coleman ◽  
Moble Benedict

This paper provides a fundamental understanding of the unsteady fluid-dynamic phenomena on a cycloidal rotor blade operating at ultra-low Reynolds numbers (Re ∼ 18,000) by utilizing a combination of instantaneous blade force and flowfield measurements. The dynamic blade force coefficients were almost double the static ones, indicating the role of dynamic stall. For the dynamic case, the blade lift monotonically increased up to ±45° pitch amplitude; however, for the static case, the flow separated from the leading edge after around 15° with a large laminar separation bubble. There was significant asymmetry in the lift and drag coefficients between the upper and lower halves of the trajectory due to the flow curvature effects (virtual camber). The particle image velocimetry measured flowfield showed the dynamic stall process during the upper half to be significantly different from the lower half because of the reversal of dynamic virtual camber. Even at such low Reynolds numbers, the pressure forces, as opposed to viscous forces, were found to be dominant on the cyclorotor blade. The power required for rotation (rather than pitching power) dominated the total blade power.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.13) ◽  
pp. 195-201
Author(s):  
Thinesh C ◽  
M Y Harmin

This paper presents a Combined Modal Finite Element (CMFE) approach to develop a Nonlinear Reduced Order Model (NROM) in order to characterize the nonlinear properties of the wing plate model. The wing plate model is subjected to three types of loading cases. The first case considers a uniformly distributed loading on the whole wing plate model for describing the bending deflection; the second case considers a uniformly distributed loading on both leading and trailing edges with one of them of an opposite direction for describing the twisting deflection; the third case considers the loading on the leading edge for describing a combination of bending-twisting deflection. The accuracy of the results is represented in the form of mean error, the standard deviation of the error and the percentage of error. From the findings, the NROMs are able to predict the nonlinear deformations of the wing plate with a minimal computational time and reasonably good accuracy. The results also indicate the importance of the selection modes when conducting the analysis.  


Author(s):  
Lei Chen ◽  
Jiang Chen

The adjoint method eliminates the dependence of the gradient of the objective function with respect to design variables on the flow field making the obtainment of the gradient both accurate and fast. For this reason, the adjoint method has become the focus of attention in recent years. This paper develops a continuous adjoint formulation for through-flow aerodynamic shape design in a multi-stage gas turbine environment based on a S2 surface quasi-3D problem governed by the Euler equations with source terms. Given the general expression of the objective function calculated via a boundary integral, the adjoint equations and their boundary conditions are derived in detail by introducing adjoint variable vectors. As a result, the final expression of the objective function gradient only includes the terms pertinent to those physical shape variations that are calculated by metric variations. The adjoint system is solved numerically by a finite-difference method with explicit Euler time-marching scheme and a Jameson spatial scheme which employs first and third order dissipative flux. Integrating the blade stagger angles and passage perturbation parameterization with the simple steepest decent method, a gradient-based aerodynamic shape design system is constructed. Finally, the application of the adjoint method is validated through a 5-stage turbine blade and passage optimization with an objective function of entropy generation. The result demonstrates that the gradient-based system can be used for turbine aerodynamic design.


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