Development of an Analysis and Optimization Tool for Slotted Wing Natural-Laminar-Flow Aircraft

摘要

A set of computational tools for aeroelastic analysis and optimization are validated and utilized for the goal of optimizing a slotted natural-laminar-flow (SNLF) wing design for commercial aircraft. The SNLF design has been shown to have enhanced lift/drag characteristics, with the potential to significantly reduce fuel burn at cruise conditions. The aeroelastic modeling capability combines a Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes flow solver with a finite element modeling and optimization package for tightly coupled analysis. Both modeling packages feature the capability to obtain sensitivities of aerodynamic and structural objectives using the adjoint method for gradient-based optimization. A series of validation test cases are de-cribed and performed for the individual codes and coupled framework, and a design optimization study is performed for a notional SNLF aircraft configuration.