Optimization of a Boomerang shape using modeFRONTIER

The paper describes the optimization of a boomerang, simulating its trajectory by a dynamic model coupled to CFD analysis to compute aerodynamic coefficients. The optimization process flow and formulation is built within the commercial process integration and optimization software modeFRONTIER. The design variables involved are primarily the geometric parameters to change the shape of the boomerang. To steer the complete process of optimization, from variables variation to performance evaluation, modeFRONTIER is coupled to Catia v5 software for geometry modification and mass properties evaluation, to MATLAB for dynamic simulation, and to the commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool Star-CCM+ for aerodynamic analysis. In addition, dedicated RSM (Response Surfaces Methods), available in modeFRONTIER, are used to extrapolate the aerodynamic coefficients as a function of the angle of incidence and velocity, as required by the dynamic model, through a reduced number of CFD analyses (database) for each geometric configuration. Different design simulations are therefore executed automatically by modeFRONTIER following a dedicated optimization strategy, until the optimal configuration of the boomerang is found, accordingly to the specified requirements, such as minimum energy required for the launch, maximum accuracy in returning, and a guaranteed minimum range. The physical complexity of this, apparently simple, problem, and the not standard application case, has been selected as an interesting benchmark that can be disclosed in full to test the multi-objective and multi-disciplinary capabilities of the optimization environment modeFRONTIER.