Aerodynamic shape design and optimization method for a new blended lifting body

Taking the references of the high lift-to-drag ratio vehicle aerodynamic shape design experiences, aimed at the aerodynamic performance requirements of the reenter vehicle, a blended lifting body aerodynamic shape with high lift-to-drag ratio is investigated to fit the various requirements of the reentry vehicle, and to quest a balance between the aerodynamic performance of the traditional wing/body shape and the high cubage efficiency of lifting body. The prophase research shows that it is an advisable method to develop the blended lifting body aerodynamic shape optimization method by building the blended lifting body model, researching the parameterization method for the blended lifting body aerodynamic shape, selecting the design variables and their range, researching the optimization algorithm, building the blended lifting body aerodynamic shape design and optimization tool. In this paper, the optimization process is proposed by integrating the geometry dimensions parameterization program, the automatic grid generation technique and the fast aerodynamic numerical calculation program based on Euler equations. A fast aerodynamic shape optimization method is developed, and the optimization result is obtained and analyzed. A new blended lifting body shape with high lift-to-drag ratio is designed. The new shape provides an useful reference for the reentry vehicle design, and the optimization method has obvious advantages in computing speed and cost, and lays a technique foundation for the practical complex aerodynamic shape optimization.