A multi-disciplinary design optimization framework with integrated structural transformation for highly loaded radial turbines

The use of CFD-based optimizations is becoming a standard for turbomachinery design. Although the use of such optimizations can lead to great improvements of the machine performances, there are still several shortcomings in the common design procedure of turbomachines. In fact, this entails the optimization of the component shape, and only a retrospective check on manufacturing feasibility and structural viability. This might lead to several design iterations and lot of time wasted.This thesis project aims at developing a multidisciplinary optimization method where the structural behaviour of the part can be checked already in the first part of the design process. This is done by using the "cold" design as first guess of the optimization, and by performing a fluid-structure interaction to predict the deformations of the part, and simultaneously investigating the behaviour of the flow field, in order to obtain the performances achieved by the operating "hot" design.Aerospace Engineerin