An Extension of Adjoint Method Capabilities

Abstract

This paper presents an alternative approach for the continuous formulation of the adjoint method applied to the Euler equations. On doing so, one could compute sensitivity gradients in a more general framework. The novel approach opens up the possibility of employing the adjoint method to assess the sensitivity of a given measure of merit with respect to changes in aerodynamic variables, in addition to the usual geometry design applications. One of the main goals of the research is to use the method as a reliable cost-effective tool to evaluate sensitivies of aerodynamic forces and moments of a given geometry with respect to control parameters at inflow boundaries from a steady flow solution.