Investigation on Adjoint Based Gradient Computations for Realistic 3d Aero-Optimization

Kurzfassung

A discrete adjoint method for e�ciently computing gradients for aerodynamic shape op- timizations is presented. The chain itself involves an unstructured mesh Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes solver, and is suitable for the optimization of complex geometries in three dimensions. In addition to the discrete ow adjoint the method introduces a second ad- joint equation for the mesh deformation. Using the adjoint chain it is possible to evaluate the gradients of a cost function for the cost of one adjoint ow solution and one adjoint volume mesh deformation, without performing any (forward) mesh deformation. By choos- ing a suitable mesh deformation operator, like linear elasticity, the chain may be readily constructed by hand. Furthermore, this adjoint chain can be subsequently used with pa- rameterized surface grids. The accuracy and the computational savings of the resulting procedure is examined for the gradient-based shape optimization of a wing in inviscid ow.