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 plane-symmetric 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.