Sensitivity analysis for aero-thermo-elastic problems using the discrete adjoint approach

Coupled multidisciplinary sensitivity analysis is required for accurate design optimization in the simulation of many physical problems. Hence, in this work we look at the coupled thermo-elastic optimization capability of a finite-element solver developed in-house called AStrO. We validate AStrO’s thermo-elastic sensitivity analysis and optimization capability by looking at multiple static and transient problems. Exact sensitivities calculated through the discrete adjoint method are presented for all the cases. Finally, the baseline and thermo-elastic optimization results for an aerodynamically heated panel case are used in an aero-thermo-elastic analysis. The aero-thermo-elastic analysis of this panel case shows how the thermo-elastic optimization of the panel modifies the flow solution. The in-house aero-thermo-elastic analysis platform used in this study was validated in previous work.