Analytically based sensitivity analysis and optimization of nonlinear aeroelastic systems

We consider the sensitivity analysis of a coupled aeroelastic system in steady-state conditions and the related aeroelastic optimization problem. We present the global sensitivity equations for a three-field formulation of the fluid/structure interaction problem, construct a computational framework that features analytical derivations of the gradients of semi-discrete operators and addresses both the direct and adjoint solution methods, and design efficient staggered procedures for solving all intermediate coupled systems of equations. We apply this computational framework to the aeroelastic optimization of three-dimensional wing structures that are modeled by finite elements, and for which the aerodynamic loads are predicted by the three-dimensional finite volume approximation of Euler flows.