Numerical Simulation Study on Adjoint-Based Optimization of a Propeller Using Reverse Engineering

In order to enhance the performance of existing propellers, a study has been carried out on the adjoint-based optimization of propellers based on reverse engineering. This method facilitates the rapid development of a more efficient propeller. In the initial phase of the study, the propeller was sca...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hao Wang, Yaoqing Liao, Mingge Shen, Sujie Zhou, Gang Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Access
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11008629/
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849688603499692032
author Hao Wang
Yaoqing Liao
Mingge Shen
Sujie Zhou
Gang Xu
author_facet Hao Wang
Yaoqing Liao
Mingge Shen
Sujie Zhou
Gang Xu
author_sort Hao Wang
collection DOAJ
description In order to enhance the performance of existing propellers, a study has been carried out on the adjoint-based optimization of propellers based on reverse engineering. This method facilitates the rapid development of a more efficient propeller. In the initial phase of the study, the propeller was scanned with a 3D scanner to obtain point cloud data. The point cloud reconstruction technique was then employed to create a 3D model of the propeller. The propeller was then subjected to a thrust test on a propeller thrust test bench. The numerical simulation employed the SST k-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\omega $ </tex-math></inline-formula> turbulence model to solve the multiple reference coordinate system model of the Reynolds average equation. This was then compared with the original propeller thrust test data. The thrust average discrepancy between the simulation and experimental results was found to be 9.8%, thereby confirming the reliability of the reverse-engineered data. Consequently, the radial distributions of the propeller thrust and torque were analysed. Furthermore, optimization of the airfoil sections contributing in excess of 10% of the total thrust was undertaken to enhance the propeller&#x2019;s thrust. The optimization target was set at a 10% improvement in the lift-to-drag ratio, and the adjoint-based optimization of the target airfoil sections at different angles of attack was performed using the gradient descent algorithm. Following the replacement of the original airfoil profiles with the optimized ones, an overall increase in hover thrust of 9.46% was observed, along with a significant increase in thrust at all speeds from 2000rpm to 5500rpm. The findings of this study illustrate the efficacy of the adjoint-based optimization approach and offer significant insights into the domain of propeller design and optimization in related fields.
format Article
id doaj-art-9b89fd0046d345f880a4deb3855ee98e
institution DOAJ
issn 2169-3536
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher IEEE
record_format Article
series IEEE Access
spelling doaj-art-9b89fd0046d345f880a4deb3855ee98e2025-08-20T03:21:55ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362025-01-0113909329094410.1109/ACCESS.2025.357218011008629Numerical Simulation Study on Adjoint-Based Optimization of a Propeller Using Reverse EngineeringHao Wang0https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7152-9947Yaoqing Liao1Mingge Shen2Sujie Zhou3Gang Xu4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5124-3024Zhejiang College of Security Technology, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaZhejiang College of Security Technology, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaZhejiang College of Security Technology, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaZhejiang College of Security Technology, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaZhejiang College of Security Technology, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaIn order to enhance the performance of existing propellers, a study has been carried out on the adjoint-based optimization of propellers based on reverse engineering. This method facilitates the rapid development of a more efficient propeller. In the initial phase of the study, the propeller was scanned with a 3D scanner to obtain point cloud data. The point cloud reconstruction technique was then employed to create a 3D model of the propeller. The propeller was then subjected to a thrust test on a propeller thrust test bench. The numerical simulation employed the SST k-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\omega $ </tex-math></inline-formula> turbulence model to solve the multiple reference coordinate system model of the Reynolds average equation. This was then compared with the original propeller thrust test data. The thrust average discrepancy between the simulation and experimental results was found to be 9.8%, thereby confirming the reliability of the reverse-engineered data. Consequently, the radial distributions of the propeller thrust and torque were analysed. Furthermore, optimization of the airfoil sections contributing in excess of 10% of the total thrust was undertaken to enhance the propeller&#x2019;s thrust. The optimization target was set at a 10% improvement in the lift-to-drag ratio, and the adjoint-based optimization of the target airfoil sections at different angles of attack was performed using the gradient descent algorithm. Following the replacement of the original airfoil profiles with the optimized ones, an overall increase in hover thrust of 9.46% was observed, along with a significant increase in thrust at all speeds from 2000rpm to 5500rpm. The findings of this study illustrate the efficacy of the adjoint-based optimization approach and offer significant insights into the domain of propeller design and optimization in related fields.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11008629/Propellerreverse engineeringadjoint-based optimizationnumerical simulation
spellingShingle Hao Wang
Yaoqing Liao
Mingge Shen
Sujie Zhou
Gang Xu
Numerical Simulation Study on Adjoint-Based Optimization of a Propeller Using Reverse Engineering
IEEE Access
Propeller
reverse engineering
adjoint-based optimization
numerical simulation
title Numerical Simulation Study on Adjoint-Based Optimization of a Propeller Using Reverse Engineering
title_full Numerical Simulation Study on Adjoint-Based Optimization of a Propeller Using Reverse Engineering
title_fullStr Numerical Simulation Study on Adjoint-Based Optimization of a Propeller Using Reverse Engineering
title_full_unstemmed Numerical Simulation Study on Adjoint-Based Optimization of a Propeller Using Reverse Engineering
title_short Numerical Simulation Study on Adjoint-Based Optimization of a Propeller Using Reverse Engineering
title_sort numerical simulation study on adjoint based optimization of a propeller using reverse engineering
topic Propeller
reverse engineering
adjoint-based optimization
numerical simulation
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11008629/
work_keys_str_mv AT haowang numericalsimulationstudyonadjointbasedoptimizationofapropellerusingreverseengineering
AT yaoqingliao numericalsimulationstudyonadjointbasedoptimizationofapropellerusingreverseengineering
AT minggeshen numericalsimulationstudyonadjointbasedoptimizationofapropellerusingreverseengineering
AT sujiezhou numericalsimulationstudyonadjointbasedoptimizationofapropellerusingreverseengineering
AT gangxu numericalsimulationstudyonadjointbasedoptimizationofapropellerusingreverseengineering