[Nick Janssens]

Hey guys
With OpenFOAM v1912, the adjoinShapeOptimisationFoam solver now makes use of a parametrisation based on volumetric B-splines. How does this work?

I know the design variables are the control points of the volumetric B-Spline, which defines a control volume around the design. Does a change of these control points directly translates into a change of the CFD mesh, or is there a step in between? For example, is the design itself parametrized as a NURBS geometry, and does the deformation of the volumetric B-Spline deform the NURBS, which in turn deforms the mesh (as in the paper in (1))?

Thank you in advance

Nick


(1) Mario J. Martin, Esther Andres, Carlos Lozano, Eusebio Valero,
Volumetric b-splines shape parametrization for aerodynamic shape design,
Aerospace Science and Technology, Volume 37, 2014, Pages 26-36,
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...7096381400090X)

[Nick Janssens]

Update

I have contacted the people from OpenFOAM, they told me the volumetric B-spline directly morphs the mesh, in a free-form-deformation fashion. The geometries are therefore not paramtrised as NURBS patches.