Parallelized structural topology optimization and CFD coupling for design of aircraft wing structures

A set of structural optimization tools are presented for topology optimization of aircraft wing structures coupled with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses. The topology optimization tool used for design is the material distribution technique. Because reducing the weight requires numerous calculations, the CFD and structural optimization codes are parallelized and coupled via a code/mesh coupling scheme. In this study, the algorithms used and the results obtained are presented for topology design of a wing cross-section under a given critical aerodynamic loading and two different spar positions to determine the optimum rib topology.