We use an E175-based lift-constrained drag-minimization study as a capability test of the lab's differentiable surface-mesh deformation method. Rather than propose an E175 redesign, the demonstration asks whether full-configuration Euler CFD can remain coupled to a conforming volume mesh as planform, wing position, mounting angle, twist, camber, and tail rotation change.
Demonstrating mesh deformation inside MDO
The Mach-0.82 demonstration uses inviscid OpenFOAM Euler CFD with DAFoam sensitivities, about 100,000 triangular surface elements, and about 1.7 million tetrahedral volume cells. Elasticity-based volume-mesh deformation keeps the CFD mesh coupled as the 42 design variables change. The result is a capability demonstration, not a validated redesign of the E175.
Paper: Ruh and Hwang [1]
Optimization problem
| Formulation element | Euler CFD capability demonstration |
|---|---|
| Case | E175-based, single-subsonic-cruise lift-constrained drag minimization. |
| Objective | Minimize drag. |
| Design variables | |
| Planform | 6 |
| Wing twist | 3 |
| Wing camber | 30 |
| Wing translation | 1 |
| Wing mounting angle | 1 |
| Tail rotation | 1 |
| Total design variables | 42 |
| Constraints | |
| Force balance | 1 |
| Moment balance | 1 |
| Total constraints | 2 |
| Models and conditions | Inviscid OpenFOAM Euler CFD (no viscous corrections) with DAFoam sensitivities; approximately 100,000 triangular surface elements and 1.7 million tetrahedral volume cells; elasticity-based volume-mesh deformation; component weight build-up equations; Mach 0.82. |
| Representative source | User-provided E175 CFD setup slide; published surface-mesh-deformation context: Ruh and Hwang (2026). |
| Source locator | User-provided E175 CFD setup slide; the related published panel-model formulation is in Table 2, page 15. |
References
- Marius L. Ruh, John T. Hwang. Surface Mesh Deformation for Large-Scale Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of Aircraft Concepts. AIAA AVIATION 2026 Forum, AIAA 2026-4569, 2026.PDF
@inproceedings{ruh2026surface, author = {Marius L. Ruh and John T. Hwang}, title = {Surface Mesh Deformation for Large-Scale Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of Aircraft Concepts}, booktitle = {AIAA AVIATION 2026 Forum, AIAA 2026-4569}, year = {2026}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref unavailable: HTTPError} }
Research connections