Optimal nose shaping for delayed boundary-layer separation in laminar plane-symmetric and axisymmetric flow

Abstract

The aim of this work is to design a forebody of minimum overall length that nevertheless allows laminar unseparated flow. This design goal is formulated as a constrained optimization problem. Classical potential and boundary-layer flow solvers are combined with the Feasible Direction Interior Point optimization algorithm to obtain representative forebody geometries in planesymmetric and axisymmetric flow. The optimal forebody shape consists of an essentially flat plate normal to the flow, connected to the aftbody by a smooth zero shear-stress surface.