Kevin Jacobson
Advisors: Prof. Marilyn Smith and Prof. Graeme Kennedy

will defend a doctoral thesis entitled,

Adjoint-based Aeroelastic Optimization with High-fidelity Time-accurate Analysis

Tuesday, November 27 at 12:00 p.m.
Student Center, Room 343
 

Abstract
As engineers are pursuing aggressive performance goals and exploring nontraditional aircraft configurations, the applicability of traditional aeroelastic design tools based on linear models and empirical data is diminishing. However, computer hardware and algorithms are advancing, and the use of high-fidelity tools, which utilize computational fluid dynamics and structural finite element modeling, is becoming a more realistic possibility for aircraft design. The incorporation of high-fidelity design tools earlier in the design process will allow nonlinear physics in aeroelasticity to be more accurately modeled. More accurate analysis in the design process will lead to more confidence in designs and fewer costly late design cycle modifications. One approach to introduce high-fidelity optimization tools in a computationally efficient manner is the adjoint method. The adjoint method has been applied to high-fidelity aeroelastic design problems, but the current literature typically focuses on certain aspects of the design problem while making simplifying assumptions or ignoring other aspects of the aeroelastic problem. This thesis presents a more general aeroelastic formulation that allows the implementation of aerodynamic, structural, and aeroelastic design constraints. The aeroelastic coupling includes both steady and time-accurate analysis with corresponding adjoint formulations. In addition to the coupling formulation, unsteady aeroelastic constraint formulations are presented for flutter and gust response.

Committee

• Prof. Marilyn Smith – School of Aerospace Engineering (Co-advisor)
• Prof. Graeme Kennedy – School of Aerospace Engineering (Co-advisor)
• Prof. Brian German – School of Aerospace Engineering
• Prof. Stephen Ruffin – School of Aerospace Engineering
• Mr. William Jones – NASA Langley Research Center
• Dr. Steven Massey – NASA Langley Research Center