Shape optimization of an axisymmetric blunt body in hypersonic flow for reducing drag and heat transfer

Ramesh K. Agarwal, Christopher Seager

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

A large design concern for high-speed vehicles such as next generation launch vehicles or reusable spacecraft is the drag and heat transfer experienced at hypersonic velocities. In this paper, the optimized shapes for minimum drag and heat transfer for an axisymmetric blunt body are developed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software in conjunction with a genetic algorithm (GA). For flow field calculations, the commercial flow solver ANSYS FLUENT is employed to solve the unsteady compressible Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations in conjunction with the SST k-? turbulence model. The hypersonic body shape is optimized using a multi-objective genetic algorithm (Moga) to minimize both the drag and heat transfer. The Moga creates a Pareto-optimal front containing the optimized shapes for various relative objectives of minimized drag and heat transfer. The results show a significant decrease in both the drag and heat transfer and exhibit the expected changes in the body profile. It should be noted that such results on shape optimization of a blunt body in hypersonic flow for reducing both drag and heat flux are reported in this paper for the first time in the literature. The proposed methodology will allow the simulation and optimization of more complex shapes for hypersonic vehicles.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPANACM 2015 - 1st Pan-American Congress on Computational Mechanics, in conjunction with the 11th Argentine Congress on Computational Mechanics, MECOM 2015
EditorsSergio R. Idelsohn, Sergio R. Idelsohn, Victorio Sonzogni, Alvaro Coutinho, Marcela Cruchaga, Adrian Lew, Miguel Cerrolaza
PublisherInternational Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering
Pages754-766
Number of pages13
ISBN (Electronic)9788494392825
StatePublished - Apr 1 2015
Event1st Pan-American Congress on Computational Mechanics, PANACM 2015 and the 11th Argentine Congress on Computational Mechanics, MECOM 2015 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Duration: Apr 27 2015Apr 29 2015

Publication series

NamePANACM 2015 - 1st Pan-American Congress on Computational Mechanics, in conjunction with the 11th Argentine Congress on Computational Mechanics, MECOM 2015

Conference

Conference1st Pan-American Congress on Computational Mechanics, PANACM 2015 and the 11th Argentine Congress on Computational Mechanics, MECOM 2015
Country/TerritoryArgentina
CityBuenos Aires
Period04/27/1504/29/15

Keywords

  • Drag
  • Heat transfer
  • Hypersonic flow
  • Shape optimization

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