Aerodynamic Shape Optimization of a Symmetric Airfoil from Subsonic to Hypersonic Flight Regimes

Abstract

Hypersonic flight has been the subject of numerous research studies during the last eight decades. This work aims to optimize the aerodynamic performance of a two-dimensional baseline airfoil (NACA0012) at distinct flight regimes from subsonic to hypersonic speeds. A mission profile has been defined, where four points representing the subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flow conditions have been selected. A framework has been implemented based on high-fidelity RANS computational fluid dynamics simulations. Gradient-based optimizations have been conducted with the objective of minimizing the drag. The optimization results show an overall improvement in aerodynamic performance, including a decrease in the drag coefficient of up to 79.2% when compared to the baseline airfoil. In the end, a morphing strategy has been laid out based on the optimal shapes produced by the optimization.