The joint webinar organized by ESTECO and Research In Flight took place on 8 November at 10 AM (EST).

ESTECO and Research In Flight showcase the optimization of a propeller geometry to meet stakeholders' goals in a complex, changing environment of multiple competing requirements and key performance metrics. Normally such a complex problem would be too time-consuming and costly to solve, especially when high-fidelity volume-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) becomes the bottleneck.

This webinar demonstrates how this class of problem can be addressed by combining ESTECO's efficient server-based approach to Multidisciplinary Design Analysis and Optimization (MDAO) technology with Research In Flight's state-of-the-art, versatile, fast, and powerful aerodynamic analysis tools.

The physics are captured by incorporating multiple analyses and disciplines. Parameterized models for aero-propulsion, aero-acoustics, and stress analyses were automated as part of the MDAO. The supporting propeller aerodynamic loads are provided using a viscous coupled potential while the tonal noise is computed using the Farasat Formulation 1A. The material stresses are computed using Finite Element Analysis.

FlightStream is a subsonic, viscous, surface-vorticity panel-method flow solver using a unique surface vorticity, flow-separation & viscous analysis capability.