About airfoil shapes spline parameterization

Аuthors

Nikolsky A. A.

Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute named after N.E. Zhukovsky (TsAGI), 1, Zhukovsky str., Zhukovsky, Moscow Region, 140180, Russia

e-mail: anikolskii@mail.ru

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a new general approach for airfoil shapes parameterization. Applications to airfoil optimization are also discussed.
Design/methodology/approach – The concept of a base airfoil spline which allows approximating a contour of an airfoil with necessary and sufficient geometrical accuracy is entered. The concept of an aerodynamic airfoil spline which allows approximating a contour of an airfoil with accuracy sufficient for problems of aerodynamic design is entered.
Findings – The results of numerical solving an inverse problem for helicopter and transonic airfoils demonstrate the effectiveness of the established method for optimization of airfoil performance. The results are verified by RANS calculations. All possibilities of technique will be seen in further researches.
Originality/value – The paper provides a new general airfoil geometry description. The advantage of this technique over the other parameterization methods is its generality and simplicity. Just ten design variables are enough to describe an arbitrary airfoil in optimization processes considered.

Keywords:

airfoil, spline, optimization, designing

References

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