Geometry Parameterisation via a Structural Modal Basis for Aerodynamic Shape Optimisation
Abstract
Aircraft outer mould lines are often heavily constrained early by payload requirements, manufacturability limits, and low-observability considerations. The remaining aerodynamic design space is typically small, highly constrained, and difficult to represent using a concise and physically meaningful set of design variables. A structural modal parameterisation method (MPM) is introduced for such problems. The method constructs a tunable pseudo-structure and solves its eigenvalue problem to obtain a modal basis, from which a selected subset of modes parameterises the geometry. Boundary conditions, stiffness distribution, density, thickness, and added masses are treated as intentional basis-design variables that shape the admissible deformation space prior to optimisation. The resulting design coordinates are independent of any specific flow solver, making the approach broadly applicable. For tightly constrained aerodynamic shape optimisation problems, it provides a practical balance of parameter conciseness, robust constraint awareness, and geometric flexibility.
Related
- The geometry of AI validation: From structural blindness to reusable audits
- Elimination Geometry II: Integrability, Representation, and Structural Limits
- Isoperimetric problem for quasi-Finsler metrics and shapes of least aerodynamic resistance
- Control Allocation with Adaptive Augmentation for Aerodynamic Optimization of Trailing Edge Morphing Aircraft
- Aerodynamic Shape Optimization of unsteady flapping wings
BibTeX
@misc{wang2026geometry,
title = {{Geometry Parameterisation via a Structural Modal Basis for Aerodynamic Shape Optimisation}},
author = {Alwin Wang and Robert Carrese and Luca Brown and Joel Collins and Pier Marzocca},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.05568},
eprint = {2609.05568},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.05568},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Geometry Parameterisation via a Structural Modal Basis for Aerodynamic Shape Optimisation
AU - Alwin Wang
AU - Robert Carrese
AU - Luca Brown
AU - Joel Collins
AU - Pier Marzocca
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/02
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.05568
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.05568
AB - Aircraft outer mould lines are often heavily constrained early by payload requirements, manufacturability limits, and low-observability considerations. The remaining aerodynamic design space is typically small, highly constrained, and difficult to represent using a concise and physically meaningful set of design variables. A structural modal parameterisation method (MPM) is introduced for such problems. The method constructs a tunable pseudo-structure and solves its eigenvalue problem to obtain a modal basis, from which a selected subset of modes parameterises the geometry. Boundary conditions, stiffness distribution, density, thickness, and added masses are treated as intentional basis-design variables that shape the admissible deformation space prior to optimisation. The resulting design coordinates are independent of any specific flow solver, making the approach broadly applicable. For tightly constrained aerodynamic shape optimisation problems, it provides a practical balance of parameter conciseness, robust constraint awareness, and geometric flexibility.
ER -