Inverse Problems for Advanced Nozzle Design

The aerodynamic design of classical and innovative nozzle concepts is investigated by an inverse method. The proposed numerical technique solves two-dimensional/axysimmetric viscous inverse problems that arise in aerodynamic design. The approach, which is well established for inviscid, rotational flows, is here extended to the viscous case. The methodology is coupled to an optimization technique seeking for wall pressure gradient distributions that maximize the nozzle thrust.