Hi, I am working on design optimisation project to reduce aerodynamic drag of vehicle using Fluent 6.1. If anybody doing/done similar work in this field design optimisation, please advice me.It will be great if someone would like to discuss about design optimisation. Thank you ....... Sona

Whatever algorithmic approach (genetic algorithm, simplex method, design of experiments) that you decide to take to your optimisation problem, the first thing you will need to do is automate your geometry specification, geometry generation, mesh generation, boundary conditions set-up and model set-up in Fluent. Also, you may need to automate grid adaption.

This is generally much easier in 2-D obviously, particularly mesh generation, but it's all dependant on your particular case.

You can achieve much of the automation of the Gambit and Fluent phases of the simulation quite easily using journal files, but you will need to write SCHEME code in order to get Fluent to save results (force, area-weighted average pressure, whatever is relevant to you, etc.) to a file on your hard drive (which can be read by an optimisation algorithm).

The first thing you could do is create the Gambit and Fluent journal files you will need. You can do that immediately. You would want to be in a position to open Gambit, run the Gambit journal file, then open Fluent, run the Fluent journal file and then wait for your solution to converge.

As regards geometry generation, you can integrate Gambit and Fluent with CAD programs like Pro/E and use functionality with the CAD program to run parametric studies on your geometry. This is not strictly necessary. You can write a program to create vertices and save them as a file that Gambit can read and create your geometry. This is what I did and I recommend it. It was not possible to define my geometry in a natural way using Pro/E, though it can be done. Writing a little program to create a parametric model gave me total flexibility to define my geometry.

Thank you An Modh Coinniolach ....I created a model in Gambit and flow analysis was conducted in Fluent6.1.I am using a software called suclptor for shape optmisation (Gradient based). Now I am working on creating fluent journal file, but I am getting some problem in running the fluent journal file in sculptor. I request further advice on Design optimisation of a car for aerodynamics and any key factors need to be taken into consideration in car aerodynamics.

Thank you,

I'm working only in prediction of car aerodynamics but with floworks, u can contact me for more informations. You can visit this web site, u will find a lot of interesting papers... http://www.tfd.chalmers.se/~lada/index.html

Hi, i'm responsible for aerodynamic optimisation using CFD at Jaguar Cars. I can give some information regarding this, or alternatively i would suggest books by Hucho, or Barnard.

cheers

joe