Engineering PapersSearch

Engineering topics

Eleshaky, Mohamed E.

Publications and source records attributed to Eleshaky, Mohamed E..

Preconditioned domain decomposition scheme for three-dimensional aerodynamic sensitivity analysis

A discrete sensitivity analysis algorithm had previously been developed and applied to two-dimensional aerodynamic optimization problems, where the computational domains were discretized by using single grids. The sparse, unsymmetric systems of linear equations resulting from this algorithm were solved by a direct matrix inversion matrix. However, for large two-dimensional problems and, practically, all three-dimensional problems, direct inversion methods become inapplicable, primarily due to the prohibitive computer storage needed. In an attempt to alleviate such hindrances, the sensitivity analysis with domain decomposition (SADD) scheme was developed. This scheme divides the computational domain into smaller and nonoverlapping subdomains (multiblock grids) that are solved separately. Then, the final solution is constructed from the subdomain solutions. As the number of grid points in the interface boundaries of the subdomains becomes large, the computer memory required to store the effective coefficient matrix of these interface points starts to increase. Presented in this Technical Note is a preconditioned iterative procedure to overcome this particular problem.

Eleshaky, Mohamed E.

Improving the efficiency of aerodynamic shape optimization

The computational efficiency of an aerodynamic shape optimization procedure that is based on discrete sensitivity analysis is increased through the implementation of two improvements. The first improvement involves replacing a grid-point-based approach for surface representation with a Bezier-Bernstein polynomial parameterization of the surface. Explicit analytical expressions for the grid sensitivity terms are developed for both approaches. The second improvement proposes the use of Newton's method in lieu of an alternating direction implicit methodology to calculate the highly converged flow solutions that are required to compute the sensitivity coefficients. The modified design procedure is demonstrated by optimizing the shape of an internal-external nozzle configuration. Practically identical optimization results are obtained that are independent of the method used to represent the surface. A substantial factor of 8 decrease in computational time for the optimization process is achieved by implementing both of the design procedure improvements.

Burgreen, Greg W.

Design of 3-D Nacelle near Flat-Plate Wing Using Multiblock Sensitivity Analysis (ADOS)

One of the major design tasks involved in reducing aircraft drag is the integration of the engine nacelles and airframe. With this impetus, nacelle shapes with and without the presence of a flat-plate wing nearby were optimized. This also served as a demonstration of the 3-D version of the recently developed aerodynamic design optimization methodology using sensitivity analysis, ADOS. The required flow analyses were obtained by solving the three-dimensional, compressible, thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations using an implicit, upwind-biased, finite volume scheme. The sensitivity analyses were performed using the preconditioned version of the SADD scheme (sensitivity analysis on domain decomposition). In addition to demonstrating the present method's capability for automatic optimization, the results offered some insight into two important issues related to optimizing the shapes of multicomponent configurations in close proximity. First, inclusion of the mutual interference between the components resulted in a different shape as opposed to shaping an isolated component. Secondly, exclusion of the viscous effects compromised not only the flow physics but also the optimized shapes even for isolated components.

Eleshaky, Mohamed E.

Airfoil shape optimization using sensitivity analysis on viscous flow equations

An aerodynamic shape optimization method has previously been developed by the authors using the Euler equations and has been applied to supersonic-hypersonic nozzle designs. This method has also included a flowfield extrapolation (or flow prediction) method based on the Taylor series expansion of an existing CFD solution. The present paper reports on the extension of this method to the thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations in order to account for the viscous effects. Also, to test the method under highly nonlinear conditions, it has been applied to the transonic flows. Initially, the success of the flow prediction method is tested. Then, the overall method is demonstrated by optimizing the shapes of two supercritical transonic airfoils at zero angle of attack. The first one is shape optimized to achieve a minimum drag while obtaining a lift above a specified value. Whereas, the second one is shape optimized for a maximum lift while attaining a drag below a specified value. The results of these two cases indicate that the present method can produce successfully optimized aerodynamic shapes.

Eleshaky, Mohamed E.

Improving the efficiency of aerodynamic shape optimization procedures

The computational efficiency of an aerodynamic shape optimization procedure which is based on discrete sensitivity analysis is increased through the implementation of two improvements. The first improvement involves replacing a grid point-based approach for surface representation with a Bezier-Bernstein polynomial parameterization of the surface. Explicit analytical expressions for the grid sensitivity terms are developed for both approaches. The second improvement proposes the use of Newton's method in lieu of an alternating direction implicit (ADI) methodology to calculate the highly converged flow solutions which are required to compute the sensitivity coefficients. The modified design procedure is demonstrated by optimizing the shape of an internal-external nozzle configuration. A substantial factor of 8 decrease in computational time for the optimization process was achieved by implementing both of the design improvements.

Burgreen, Greg W.

Aerodynamic shape optimization via sensitivity analysis on decomposed computational domains

Direct and iterative method considered to be most applicable to large systems of linear equations arising in discrete sensitivity analysis are assessed. Based on a single-domain grid, computations are performed using a banded matrix solver and an iterative solver, the generalized minimum residual (GMRES) method. The banded matrix solver is found to be generally the most economical method for those applications where the number of right-hand sides is large (i.e., a large number of design variables or a large number of adjoint vectors). For systems of equations that are too large to be solved by direct methods, an approach is proposed whereby the computational domain is divided into small subdomains, and each subdomain is solved separately.

Eleshaky, Mohamed E.

Aerodynamic sensitivity analysis methods for the compressible Euler equations

This study presents a mathematical formulation developed for aerodynamic sensitivity coefficients based on a discretized form of the compressible 2D Euler equations. A brief motivating introduction to the aerodynamic sensitivity analysis and the reasons behind an integrated flow/sensitivity analysis for design algorithms are presented. The finite difference approach and the quasi-analytical approach are used to determine the aerodynamic sensitivity coefficients. A new flow prediction concept, which is an outcome of the direct method in the quasi-analytical approach, is developed and illustrated with an example. Surface pressure coefficient distributions of a nozzle-afterbody configuration obtained from the predicted flowfield solution are compared successfully with their corresponding values obtained from a flowfield analysis code and the experimental data.

Baysal, Oktay

Aerodynamic design optimization using sensitivity analysis and computational fluid dynamics

A new and efficient method is presented for aerodynamic design optimization, which is based on a computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-sensitivity analysis algorithm. The method is applied to design a scramjet-afterbody configuration for an optimized axial thrust. The Euler equations are solved for the inviscid analysis of the flow, which in turn provides the objective function and the constraints. The CFD analysis is then coupled with the optimization procedure that uses a constrained minimization method. The sensitivity coefficients, i.e. gradients of the objective function and the constraints, needed for the optimization are obtained using a quasi-analytical method rather than the traditional brute force method of finite difference approximations. During the one-dimensional search of the optimization procedure, an approximate flow analysis (predicted flow) based on a first-order Taylor series expansion is used to reduce the computational cost. Finally, the sensitivity of the optimum objective function to various design parameters, which are kept constant during the optimization, is computed to predict new optimum solutions. The flow analysis of the demonstrative example are compared with the experimental data. It is shown that the method is more efficient than the traditional methods.

Baysal, Oktay

Aerodynamic shape optimization using sensitivity analysis on third-order Euler equations

Two major advancements of an aerodynamic optimization method with two design variables are described. The first is represnted by an improved flow prediction method that uses the third-order accurate discretization of the Euler equations. This method makes it possible to predict the flowfield of a perturbed shape which generates shocks and other large gradients without intermediate CFD analysis. The second advancement is the use of every surface grid point as a design variable in the aerodynamic shape optimization problem. The improved algorithm is demonstrated by optimizing the ramp shape of a scramjet-afterbody configuration for maximum axial thrust. It is concluded that the improved flow-field prediction method eliminates most of the flow analysis and a priori guessing of all possible shapes from which the optimum is to be selected.

Baysal, Oktay

Navier-Stokes analysis of cold scramjet-afterbody flows

The progress of two efforts in coding solutions of Navier-Stokes equations is summarized. The first effort concerns a 3-D space marching parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) code being modified to compute the supersonic mixing flow through an internal/external expansion nozzle with multicomponent gases. The 3-D PNS equations, coupled with a set of species continuity equations, are solved using an implicit finite difference scheme. The completed work is summarized and includes code modifications for four chemical species, computing the flow upstream of the upper cowl for a theoretical air mixture, developing an initial plane solution for the inner nozzle region, and computing the flow inside the nozzle for both a N2/O2 mixture and a Freon-12/Ar mixture, and plotting density-pressure contours for the inner nozzle region. The second effort concerns a full Navier-Stokes code. The species continuity equations account for the diffusion of multiple gases. This 3-D explicit afterbody code has the ability to use high order numerical integration schemes such as the 4th order MacCormack, and the Gottlieb-MacCormack schemes. Changes to the work are listed and include, but are not limited to: (1) internal/external flow capability; (2) new treatments of the cowl wall boundary conditions and relaxed computations around the cowl region and cowl tip; (3) the entering of the thermodynamic and transport properties of Freon-12, Ar, O, and N; (4) modification to the Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model to account for turbulent eddies generated by cowl walls inside and external to the nozzle; and (5) adopting a relaxation formula to account for the turbulence in the mixing shear layer.

Baysal, Oktay

Adaptive computations of multispecies mixing between scramjet nozzle flows and hypersonic freestream

The objective of this paper is to compute the expansion of a supersonic flow through an internal-external nozzle and its viscous mixing with the hypersonic flow of air. The supersonic jet may be that of a multispecies gas other than air. Calculations are performed for one case where both flows are those of air, and another case where a mixture of freon-12 and argon is discharged supersonically to mix with the hypersonic airflow. Comparisons are made between these two cases with respect to gas compositions, and fixed versus flow-adaptive grids. All the computational results are compared successfully with the wind-tunnel tests results.

Baysa, Oktay

2-D and 3-D mixing flow analyses of a scramjet-afterbody configuration

A cold simulant gas study of propulsion/airframe integration for a hypersonic vehicle powered by a scramjet engine is presented. The specific heat ratio of the hot exhaust gases are matched by utilizing a cold mixture of argon and Freon-12. Solutions are obtained for a hypersonic corner flow and a supersonic rectangular flow in order to provide the upstream boundary conditions. The computational test examples also provide a comparison of this flow with that of air as the expanding supersonic jet, where the specific heats are assumed to be constant. It is shown that the three-dimensional computational fluid capabilities developed for these types of flow may be utilized to augment the conventional wind tunnel studies of scramjet afterbody flows using cold simulant exhaust gases, which in turn can help in the design of a scramjet internal-external nozzle.

Baysal, Oktay