Simultaneous shape and topology optimization of wings

• Published in: Structural and multidisciplinary optimization Vol. 66; no. 5; p. 116
• Main Authors: Høghøj, Lukas C., Conlan-Smith, Cian, Sigmund, Ole, Andreasen, Casper Schousboe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.05.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bending moments; Computational Mathematics and Numerical Analysis; Design optimization; Engineering; Engineering Design; Lift; Modulus of elasticity; Optimization; Panel method (fluid dynamics); Research Paper; Shape optimization; Stiffening; Structural response; Struts; Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Topology optimization; Wings (aircraft); Topology optimization; Wings; Panel methods; Shape optimization
• ISSN: 1615-147X; 1615-1488; 1615-1488
• DOI: 10.1007/s00158-023-03569-x

This paper presents a method for simultaneous optimization of the outer shape and internal topology of aircraft wings, with the objective of minimizing drag subject to lift and compliance constraints for multiple load cases. The physics are evaluated by the means of a source-doublet panel method for the aerodynamic response and linear elastic finite elements for the structural response, which are one-way coupled. At each design iteration, a mapping procedure is applied to map the current wing shape and corresponding pressure loads to the unfitted finite element mesh covering the design domain. Wings of small fixed-wing airplanes both with and without a stiffening strut are optimized. The resulting wings show internal topologies with struts and wall-truss combinations, depending on the design freedom of the shape optimization. The lift distributions of the optimized wings show patterns like the ones obtained when performing optimization of wing shapes with constraints on the bending moment at the root.