Aim: To build an Engineering framework with focus on fluid structure interaction (FSI), Aero-elasticity and Multi-disciplinary design optimization

(MDO). Project Description: The interaction between fluid and structure has a major impact on the performance of aerodynamic devices such as airplane wings and turbine blades. Thus, accurate modeling of the aerodynamic as well as the structural disciplines are critical for the design and development of the aerodynamic devices. Unfortunately, in the most of the work that have appeared so far, these disciplines have been modelled at a relatively low fidelity level. Although it might be useful in conceptual design stage, lower order models cannot accurately predict the complex interactions between fluid and structures. Thus in this project, the objective is to develop an aerostructural framework for high fidelity analysis and optimization.

For this project the tools that will be incorporated are listed below Open-foam-Solver SU2- Aerodynamic Solver Deal II-Structural Solver Dakota-Optimization Toolbox

The proposed work can be divided into three parts viz: Coupling aerodynamic solver with Dakota Getting familiar with Open-foam and SU-2 Once comfortability with aerodynamic solver is achieved, Dakota will be coupled with the solvers. Coupling structural solver with Dakota Getting familiar with structural solver Deal II. Linking Dakota with Deal II. Coupling aerodynamic and structural solver along with Dakota The structural and the aerodynamic solver will be linked together to form the aerostructural framework. A conceptual block diagram depicting such framework is given.

Optimization Toolbox

Aerodynamic Solver

Structural Solver

In the coming 3 months, the first two parts of the project will be completed. In the third part, the process of coupling the aerodynamic and structural solvers is highly complex. The process of transferring the information from the aerodynamic mesh the structural mesh is not straight forward. A proper care has to be taken such that the information passed from aerodynamic to the structural disciplines and vice versa is consistent. As this process is time consuming, I would try my best to complete the third part within the stipulated timeframe of 3 months. With this in mind a Gantt chart for my proposed work is presented below.