Aerodynamic Optimization of an UCAV Configuration

Advanced aircraft design is characterized by multipoint, multidisciplinary requirements. Optimization techniques probe the aerodynamic, flight mechanical and structural design sensitivities for a balanced vehicle-system. Aircraft optimization exercises were performed in an universal optimization environment, which controls the CAD, robust mesh generation, RANS-flow simulation and the selection of multidisziplinary variables. Genetic algorithms, evolutionary strategies and simplex were used. The algorithms applied will be compared.