Progressive optimization of inverse fluid dynamic design problems (Q1818732)

The title problem is solved for compressible flows by a method which has three essential features: a) the procedure allows the use of highly accurate flow solvers which need no additional modifications; b) efficient design sensitivities are obtained using a discrete adjoint formulation; c) the procedure involves a progressive optimization, the main contribution of the authors. The method is applied to subsonic, transonic and supersonic flows in different geometries: transonic diffuser, transonic bump in channel, subsonic bump in channel, supersonic diffuser, transonic airfoils. The numerical results are presented in many suggestive plots, and are compared with results in the existing literature.