Aerodynamic Analysis and Optimization
Description
This project consisted of aerodynamic analysis and design optimization, focusing on creating an optimal wing configuration for a simple airframe. Key characteristics such as chord and twist were optimized under specific conditions by leveraging the Julia packages VortexLattice for aerodynamic modeling and SNOW for its advanced nonlinear optimization and derivative computation capabilities.
Info
I completed this project as an undergraduate researcher in the BYU FLOW Lab under the guidance of a graduate student mentor. This project is based upon the Airframe Design Track.
Key Takeaways
- Airfoil analysis performed through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations
- Airframe analysis performed through the vortex lattice method (VLM)
- Optimization of airframe aerodynamic design
Timeline
Duration: October 2023 - April 2024
Total time: 80 hours
Time commitment: 2-3 hours a week for 32 weeks.
Results
Airfoil Analysis
Airframe Analysis and Optimization
Main Accomplishments
The big success from this project was solving two optimization problems.
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The first was creating an elliptical distribution of chord values for an untwisted wing, thus resulting in an elliptical lift distribution.
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The second was creating an elliptical distribution of twist values for a rectangular wing, thus resulting in an elliptical lift distribution.
Elliptical Chord Distribution
I used a visualization tool called ParaView to analyze the chord values generated from my optimization solver.
Top view of wing
Plot of chord distribution
Elliptical Chord Distribution
I successfully implemented an optimization solver which converges to an elliptical wing chord distribution.
Elliptical Twist Distribution
I again used ParaView to visualize the wing. This image is a side view of a rectangular wing. You can notice the distribution of twist along the span of the wing as it does not lie flat.
Side view of rectangular wing
Coefficient of lift distribution of the twisted wing
Elliptical Twist Distribution
I successfully implemented an optimization solver which converges to a twisted wing with an elliptical lift distribution.
Code
To see my code, check out my Github:
Technical Skills
Julia
Leveraged the Julia programming language for high-performance technical computing, specifically to develop and execute complex nonlinear optimization algorithms for aerodynamic design projects. Julia excels in speed and performance, especially for numerical computing and high-performance scientific applictions.
Aerodynamic Principles
Learned the fundemental principles of flight and aerodynamics. Gained proficiency in modeling aerodynamic forces and performance characteristics of airfoils and airframes, using computational tools like VortexLattice to analyze and inform design decisions.
Research Skills
Exposed to university research and true independent problem solving. Demonstrated ability to independently gather, synthesize, and apply technical information from academic papers, documentation, and textbooks to solve a complex engineering problem.