CFD Design Optimization of a 2D Airfoil for Drag Minimization Using Parameterization Method of Mesh Motion
Zhi Cai Jiang · 2023
As Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been playing a more fundamental role in design optimization, a broad range of engineering fields have started to apply CFD as an approach to deal with optimization problems. CFD design optimization in Aerospace engineering mainly aims to modify aerodynamic shapes to obtain improved aerodynamic performances such as drag reduction and lift increasement of airfoil. This paper concentrates on conducting a design shape optimization for a two-dimensional NACA0012 airfoil to minimize drag by implementing CFD exercise, modeling and simulation of the 2D airfoil, as well as the parameterization process of mesh motion have been employing in the optimization process. CFD application is involved to carry out this paper, including establishment and simulation of the airfoil model, simulations were executed on the 2D airfoil at zero degree angle of attack (AOA) with different Reynolds numbers, and undertaking parameterization process of airfoil mesh deformation by Radial Basis Function (RBF) to seek optimal result., eventually achieved in finding optimum airfoil shapes at a range of Reynolds numbers with respect to minimal drags.