Optimization of flow geometries applying quasianalytical sensitivity analysis (Q5961710)

An approach for the optimization of three-dimensional viscous flow geometries is presented. A general purpose optimization tool has been developed and implemented into the finite volume-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) environment of CFDS-FLOW3D. Of principal interest is the calculation of sensitivity coefficients, which follow by a quasianalytical method rather than the time-intensive approximation by finite differences. It is verified that major time savings can be obtained in the sensitivity analysis, especially when using a large number of design variables. The optimization tool is applied to a two-dimensional laminar diffuser in order to obtain maximum pressure recovery by contouring the divergent wall section.