Application of Adjoint Aerodynamics Optimization for a High-Speed Vehicle Moving in a Tube

This work explores the application of adjoint-based optimization for a self-propelled vehicle moving in a tube at a low-pressure of 10 KPa with a small suspension gap (d) between the vehicle and the tube. The objective is to minimize the drag force for air-ingested vehicles. The thrust was a design constraint to maintain the cruise conditions. The nose and tail parts of the model were parametrized using elliptical approximation. Gradient-based optimization was utilized in the adjoint-based optimization to deform the vehicle’s external shape. The optimization remarkably enhanced the aerodynamic vehicle’s performance by eliminating of shock waves and flow separation observed in the baseline design. As a result, a reduction of ~13% in drag force was achieved. The study shows that adjoint-based optimization provides a robust tool for enhancing the performance of the vehicle-tube system.