Sensitivity analysis and design optimization of three‐dimensional non‐linear aeroelastic systems by the adjoint method

We consider the problem of optimizing a non‐linear aeroelastic system in steady‐state conditions, where the structure is represented by a detailed finite element model, and the aerodynamic loads are predicted by the discretization of the non‐linear Euler equations. We present a solution method for this problem that is based on the three‐field formulation of fluid–structure interaction problems, and the adjoint approach for coupled sensitivity analysis. We discuss the computational complexity of the proposed solution method, describe its implementation on parallel processors, and illustrate its computational efficiency with the aeroelastic optimization of various wings.