Two-dimensional aircraft high-lift system design and optimization

A two-dimensional aircraft high-lift system design and optimization method, which can be easily extended to three dimensions, is presented. The need for such a tool is assessed. The method uses a gradient based local optimizer. The aerodynamic performance is predicted using an Interactive Boundary Layer (IBL) approach. Methods to represent general multi-element airfoils by a set of design variables are described. The representation of airfoils by general shape functions as well as element positioning (deflection angle, gap, overlap) is considered. The accuracy of the IBL approach when Reynolds number, element gap