Aero-Thermo-Elastic Optimization Using the Discrete Adjoint Approach

Coupled aero-thermal-elastic sensitivity analysis and optimization is required for accurate design and optimization in many high-speed flow problems. Hence, the multidisciplinary optimization of such problems is the main focus of the current work. In this study, the flow simulations are carried out using NSU3D, a three-dimensional implicit finite volume solver developed in-house. NSU3D’s flow and sensitivity analysis capabilities have been well tested through numerous previous studies. For the thermal and structural solutions, a finite-element solver called AStrO is used, which is also developed in-house. AStrO’s thermo-elastic analysis and sensitivity analysis capabilities have been demonstrated in previous work as well. In earlier papers we have developed and validated an aero-thermo-elastic analysis platform by coupling NSU3D and AStrO. The purpose of the current work is to demonstrate aero-thermo-elastic optimization by coupling the sensitivities from these two solvers. In this paper, the coupled sensitivities are verified and used in the multidisciplinary optimization of a heated panel in hypersonic flow.