An aerothermodynamic design optimization framework for hypersonic vehicles

Abstract

In the aviation field great interest is growing in passengers transportation at hypersonic speed. This requires, however, careful study of the enabling technologies necessary for the optimal design of hypersonic vehicles. In this framework, the present work reports on a highly integrated design environment that has been developed in order to provide an optimization loop for vehicle aerothermodynamic design. It includes modules for geometrical parametrization, automated data transfer between tools, automated execution of computational analysis codes, and design optimization methods. This optimization environment is exploited for the aerodynamic design of an unmanned hypersonic cruiser flying at M ∞ = 8 and 30 km altitude. The original contribution of this work is mainly found in the capability of the developed optimization environment of working simultaneously on shape and topology of the aircraft. The results reported and discussed highlight interesting design capabilities, and promise extension to more challenging and realistic integrated aerothermodynamic design problems.

Creation of Design and Analysis Tools for Large Design Space Reusable Launch Vehicle Shape Optimization

“…Overall performance of hypersonic vehicles is taken into account by Deng et al [13], coupling flight characteristics and geometric performance parameters within objective functions. Recently, Di Giorgio et al [14] introduced an aerothermodynamic design optimization framework for hypersonic vehicles. Aimed at high speed passenger aircraft, engineering level prediction methods are utilized, with potential future extension to multi-fidelity and surrogate based techniques.…”

Modelling and Simulation of Transpiration Cooling Systems for Atmospheric Re-Entry

“…Designing a vehicle for such a mission is a complex process. While accurately calculating the heat flow to the surface of hypersonic re-entry vehicles is an area of ongoing research [1], many are also working on creating robust and efficient strategies and tools to arrive at optimal aerothermodynamic design of a hypersonic vehicle [2]. Similarly, numerical and experimental investigations of thermal protections systems involving various solutions and materials have been carried out.…”

Numerical study on aerodynamic performance of waverider with a new bluntness method

“…The waverider configuration is widely used in hypersonic vehicles with its good lift-to-drag ratio aerodynamic performance. 1–10 The waverider was first proposed by Nonweiler 11 in the 1950s. According to the given flow field, the configuration is designed by means of shock surface cutting and streamline tracing.…”