Parametric study of the class-shape-refinement-transformation method

The application of a novel parametrization technique to the optimization of aircraft shapes is presented. This class-shape-refinement transformation (CSRT) technique combines an analytical function (class function), a set of Bernstein polynomials (shape function) and a B-spline (refinement function) and can be used to model various aircraft components. It allows for both global and local control of a shape and forms a very efficient and intuitive way of mathematically describing aircraft parts. A parametric study was performed that shows the behaviour of the shape as a function of a number of different parameters, such as total number of shape variables and Bernstein/B-spline coefficient ratio. The CSRT method was used to approximate a typical aircraft wing cross-section and the results showed a very non-linear relationship between the number of shape variables and the error of the approximation, expressed in terms of a correlation factor. This behaviour has been thoroughly analysed. Additionally, optimization results were obtained that show that the CSRT method was successfully coupled to an aerodynamic flow solver. The objective of the optimization runs was to maximize lift-to-drag ratio, but in principle any objective function could be used as long as its input follows from the aerodynamic analysis. The optimization algorithm is capable of largely removing the shock wave on an airfoil at a typical cruise Mach number.