Fluid-Dynamic Optimization of the Cabin Air Outlet Do728-KLA with Adjoint Sensitivity Analysis

Abstract

This paper is concerned with shape optimization based on continuous adjoint sensitivity analysis with respect to fluid-dynamic cost functions such as uniformity of flow or pressure loss. The solution of the primal and the corresponding adjoint incompressible Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations leads to the sensitivity, which specifies in combination with a normal vector and a proper step size, how body contours should be modified in order to obtain an improvement of the cost function toward a local minimum. Focal point is the application to an aircraft cabin air outlet. According to the specification of the sensitivity the initial geometry is deformed. A further RANS simulation illustrates numerically that the cost function notably improves. Additionally, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements are accomplished in order to validate the numerical results.