A multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) methodology is developed to link the aerodynamic shape design to the system costs for magnetically levitated (MAGLEV) vehicles. These railed vehicles can cruise at speeds approaching that of short haul aircraft and travel just inches from a guideway. They are slated for high speed intercity service of up to 500 miles in length and would compete with air shuttle services. The realization of this technology hinges upon economic viability which is the impetus for the design methodology presented here. This methodology involves models for the aerodynamics, structural weight, direct operating cost, acquisition cost, and life cycle cost and utilizes the DOT optimization software. Optimizations are performed using sequential quadratic programming for a 5 design variable problem. This problem is reformulated using 7 design variables to overcome problems due to non-smooth design space. The reformulation of the problem provides a smoother design space which is navigable by calculus based optimizers. The MDO methodology proves to be a useful tool for the design of MAGLEV vehicles. The optimizations show significant and sensible differences between designing for minimum life cycle cost and other figures of merit. The optimizations also show a need for a more sensitive acquisition cost model which is not based simply on weight engineering. As a part of the design methodology, a low-order aerodynamics model is developed for the prediction of 2-D, ground effect flow over bluff bodies. The model employs a continuous vortex sheet to model the solid surface, discrete vortices to model the shed wake, the Stratford Criterion to determine the location of the turbulent separation, and the vorticity conservation condition to determine the strength of the shed vorticity. The continuous vortex sheet better matches the mechanics of the flow than discrete singularities and therefore better predicts the ground effect flow. The predictions compare well with higher-order computational methods and experimental data. A 3-D extension to this model is investigated, although no 3-D design optimizations are performed. NOTE: An updated copy of this ETD was added on 05/29/2013. / Ph. D.

This study involved experimental and equivalent computational investigations into the automobile-type 3―D flow physics of a diffuser bluff body in ground-effect and novel passive flow-control methods applied to the diffuser flow to enhance the diffuser’s aerodynamic performance. The bluff body used in this study is an Ahmed-like body employed in an inverted position with the slanted section together with the addition of side plates along both sides forming the ramped diffuser section. The first part of the study confirmed reported observations from previous studies that the downforce generated by the diffuser in proximity to a ground plane is influenced by the peak suction at the diffuser inlet and subsequent static pressure-recovery towards the diffuser exit. Also, when the bluff body ride height is gradually reduced from high to low, the diffuser flow as indicated by its force curve and surface flow features undergoes four distinct flow regimes (types A to D). The types A and B regimes are reasonably symmetrical, made up of two low-pressure core longitudinal vortices travelling along both sides of the diffuser length and they increase downforce and drag with reducing ride height. However, below the ride heights of the type B regime, types C and D regimes are asymmetrical because of the breakdown of one vortex; consequently a significant loss in downforce and drag occurs. The second part of the study involved the use ― near the diffuser exit ― of a convex bump on the diffuser ramp surface and an inverted wing between the diffuser side plates as passive flow control devices. The modification of the diffuser geometry with these devices employed individually or in combination, induced a second-stage pressure-drop and recovery near the diffuser exit. This behaviour was due to the radial pressure gradient induced on the diffuser flow by the suction surface ii curvature of the passive devices. As a result of this aerodynamic phenomenon, the diffuser generated across the flow regimes additional downforce, and a marginal increase in drag due to the profile drag induced by the devices.