Aerodynamic Optimization Design on Supersonic Transports Considering Sonic Boom Intensity

Abstract

It is key points to improve the aerodynamic efficiency and decrease the sonic-boom intensity for the supersonic aircraft design. Sonic-boom prediction method with high precision combining the near-field sonic-boom prediction based on Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations and the far-field sonic-boom prediction based on waveform parameter method is firstly established. Then the gradient of sonic boom with respect to the design variables is calculated by the finite difference method and is combined with the gradient of the aerodynamic object by the discrete adjoint technique, acting as the gradient of the weighed object function. Assembling two gradients, the optimization system couples Free Form Deform method、the dynamic mesh technique based on Inverse Distance Weighting interpolation method、the gradient-based optimization algorithm based on the sequential quadratic programming. Using the aerodynamic optimization system considering the sonic boom intensity, the paper conducts a nose angle deflection optimization design and an elaborate aerodynamic optimization including huge design variables and constraints on a supersonic business jet, while the optimization objects are the weighed object and the supersonic cruise drag coefficient. The results show that the nose is deflected downward and the shock wave pattern is changed, leading to a lower far-field maximum overpressure; the drag is decreased by 15.8 counts, and the wing load is moved inboard, also, the pressure drag of the outer wing reduces. Meanwhile, the pressure distribution in the outer wing has a weaker adverse pressure gradient and a more gentle pressure recovery. After optimization, the low-drag and low-sonic boom configuration is obtained, which verified the effectiveness of the optimization system.