Comparative study of two supersonic wing-body wave drag optimization methods

In this paper the wing and fuselage shapes of a supersonic wing-body are represented by class-shape-transformation (CST) parameterization, and a method of supersonic wing-body wave drag co-optimization based on far-field composite elements (CoFCE) is proposed by taking advantage of the aerodynamic interference of the wing and the fuselage shapes. Optimization effect and computation cost comparisons between the CoFCE method and the extended far-field composite element (EFCE) wave drag optimization method are carried out. The study demonstrates that as the parameter number increases more computation costs are required and significantly better optimization results can be achieved by the CoFCE method than by the EFCE method. The CoFCE optimizes wing-body yields higher lift to drag ratios in supersonic cruise conditions.