A Study on Form Optimization Problem Based on CFD for Two-Dimensional Wing Section

Abstract

This paper presents a study on form optimization problem of two-dimensional wing section, with main focus placed on improvement of lift-to-drag ratio at a given angle of attack. The fully-elliptic Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes and continuity equations are solved with zero-equation turbulence model in order to compute lift and drag forces acting on the body, using a regular grid, finite-analytic discretization, and a PISO-type velocity-pressure coupling algorithm. An overview is given of the present numerical approach, and results are presented for modification of NACA0012 wing section, including discussions regarding influence of type of form modification function and number of design parameters on optimized solutions. In addition, relative computational performance is compared between two nonlinear programming algorithms, i.e., successive linear programming (SLP) and successive quadratic programming (SQP).