Design Optimization of Nozzle Shapes for Maximum Uniformity of Exit Flow

Authors

Karla K. Quintao, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Mechanical Engineering

First Advisor's Name

George S. Dulikravich

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Yiding Cao

Third Advisor's Name

Cheng-Xian (Charlie) Lin

Keywords

optimization, nozzle shapes, flow uniformity, computational fluid dynamics, response surface methodology

Date of Defense

11-9-2012

Abstract

The objective of this study is to identify the optimal designs of converging-diverging supersonic and hypersonic nozzles that perform at maximum uniformity of thermodynamic and flow-field properties with respect to their average values at the nozzle exit.

Since this is a multi-objective design optimization problem, the design variables used are parameters defining the shape of the nozzle. This work presents how variation of such parameters can influence the nozzle exit flow non-uniformities.

A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software package, ANSYS FLUENT, was used to simulate the compressible, viscous gas flow-field in forty nozzle shapes, including the heat transfer analysis. The results of two turbulence models, k-e and k-ω, were computed and compared.

With the analysis results obtained, the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied for the purpose of performing a multi-objective optimization. The optimization was performed with ModeFrontier software package using Kriging and Radial Basis Functions (RBF) response surfaces. Final Pareto optimal nozzle shapes were then analyzed with ANSYS FLUENT to confirm the accuracy of the optimization process.

Identifier

FI12120505

Recommended Citation

Quintao, Karla K., "Design Optimization of Nozzle Shapes for Maximum Uniformity of Exit Flow" (2012). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 779.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/779