Efficient parameterization of waverider geometries

Abstract

This paper summarizes the results of investigations into the development of parametric waverider geometry models, with emphasis on their efficiency, in terms of their ability to cover a large feasible design space with a sufficiently small number of design variables to avoid the “curse of dimensionality.” The work presented here is focused on the parameterization of idealized waverider forebody geometries that provide the baseline shapes upon which more sophisticated and realistic hypersonic aircraft geometries can be built. Three different aspects of rationalizing the decisions behind the parametric geometry models developed using the osculating cones method are considered. Initially, three different approaches to the design method itself are discussed. Each approach provides direct control over different aspects of the geometry for which very specific shapes would be more complex to obtain indirectly, thus enabling the geometry to more efficiently meet any related design constraints. Then, a number of requirements and limitations are investigated that affect the available options for the parametric design-driving curves of the inverse design method. Finally, the performance advantages that open up with increasing flexibility of the design-driving curves in the context of a design optimization study are estimated. This allows one to reduce the risk of overparameterizing the geometry model, while still enabling a variety of meaningful shapes. Although the osculating cones method has mainly been used here, most of the findings also apply to other similar inverse design algorithms.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Andras Sobester: orcid.org/0000-0002-8997-4375

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