Transonic wing design using inverse methods in curvilinear coordinates

Abstract

An inverse wing design method has been developed around an existing transonic wing analysis code. The original analysis code, TAWFIVE, has as its core the numerical potential flow solver FLO30, developed by Caughey and Jameson. Features of the analysis code include a finite-volume formulation, ah SLOR solution scheme, and a wing and fuselage fitted, curvilinear grid mesh. The development of the inverse method as an extension of previous methods existing for design in Cartesian coordinates is presented. Results are shown for inviscid wing design cases in supercritical flow regimes. The test case selected also demonstrates the versatility of the design method in designing an entire wing or discontinuous sections of a wing.