03.4 - Applied Aerodynamics
TO CFD OR NOT TO CFD? COMPARING RANS AND VISCOUS PANEL METHODS FOR AIRFOIL SHAPE OPTIMIZATION
E.J. Adler¹, A.C. Gray¹, J.R.R.A. Martins¹; ¹University of Michigan, United States
Using RANS CFD and a viscous panel method, we show the effect of aerodynamic analysis method selection on optimized aerodynamic shapes and the consequences of choosing one that does not capture the relevant flow physics. Our results provide aerodynamicists with the data and intuition to make informed decisions when selecting analysis methods for optimization.