Parametric Optimization of Pulsating Jets in Unsteady Flow by Multiple-Gradient Descent Algorithm (MGDA)

Abstract

Two numerical methodologies are combined to optimize six design characteristics of a system of pulsating jets acting on a laminar boundary layer governed by the compressible Navier-Stokes equations in a time-periodic regime. The flow is simulated by second-order in time and space finite-volumes, and the simulation provides the drag as a function of time. Simultaneously, the sensitivity equations, obtained by differentiating the governing equations w.r.t. the six parameters are also marched in time, and this provides the six-component parametric gradient of drag. When the periodic regime is reached numerically, one thus disposes of an objective-function, drag, to be minimized, and its parametric gradient, at all times of a period. Second, the parametric optimization is conducted as a multi-point problem by the Multiple-Gradient Descent Algorithm (MGDA) which permits to reduce the objective-function at all times simultaneously, and not simply in the sense of a weighted average.