Patrick LeGresley Research focuses on the development of reduced order models for use in design and optimization. To be computationally feasible the order of some systems, such as an aeroelastic system with millions of degrees of freedom, may need to be reduced. Joaquim Martins Research is in the area of multidisciplinary optimization applied to aircraft design. The focus is on the use of high-fidelity models in aerodynamic and structural analysis and on the coupling of these two disciplines. Matt McMullen Research focuses on the efficient computation of solutions to the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations.
Current focus is on the application of harmonic balance techniques to steady state solvers.
Efficiency comparisons will be generated between frequency and time domain computations. The research will generate a new class of solvers which will be validated on low Reynolds number flows. First, the study of the trade-off between the complexity of the discretization of the adjoint equation for both the continuous and discrete approach, the accuracy of the resulting estimate of the gradient, and its impact on the computational cost to approach an optimum solution. Second, the development of the unsteady adjoint equation. The research will produce unsteady adjoint algorithms for the optimization of a blade shape for a helicopter rotor to minimize the average drag over a complete revolution.