Coupled analytical sensitivity analysis and optimization of three-dimensional nonlinear aeroelastic systems

We consider the problem of optimizing for steady-state conditions a given nonlinear aeroelastic system, by varying both aerodynamic and structural parameters. We model the structure by finite elements and predict the aerodynamic loads by a three-dimensional finite volume approximation of the Euler equations. We present a complete optimization methodology whose key components are a computer aided geometric design method for representing the design, an analytical approach for sensitivity analysis, a gradient-based optimization algorithm and two staggered schemes for evaluating the aeroelastic responses and solving the coupled sensitivity equations. We illustrate our methodology and demonstrate its potential with various aeroelastic optimizations of idealized and builtup wing structures.