Rapid Aerodynamic Design of Prop-Rotor with Optimization

This paper presents a rapid aerodynamic design methodology for prop-rotors based on optimization techniques. The approach combines computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis with efficient optimization algorithms to achieve improved aerodynamic performance in a reduced design cycle time.

Abstract

Prop-rotor design is a complex multi-disciplinary optimization problem that requires balancing aerodynamic efficiency, structural integrity, and acoustic considerations. Traditional design approaches often involve lengthy iterative processes that can be computationally expensive and time-consuming. This work presents a rapid aerodynamic design methodology that combines surrogate-based optimization with high-fidelity CFD analysis to accelerate the design process while maintaining accuracy. The proposed approach utilizes a multi-fidelity optimization framework that employs simplified analytical models for initial design space exploration and refined CFD simulations for final design validation. The methodology is demonstrated through the design of a prop-rotor blade, showing significant improvements in aerodynamic performance compared to baseline designs while reducing the overall computational cost of the design process.

Key Contributions

1. Development of a surrogate-based optimization framework for rapid prop-rotor design
2. Implementation of a multi-fidelity approach combining analytical and CFD models
3. Demonstration of significant computational cost reduction without sacrificing accuracy
4. Validation of the approach through practical design cases

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