Fast, accurate drag predictions could lead to more fuel-efficient aircraft

Researchers at the University of Surrey have developed AeroMap, a computational framework designed to provide fast and accurate aerodynamic drag predictions during the early stages of aircraft design. AeroMap estimates drag for various wing-body configurations operating near transonic speeds, delivering datasets 10 to 100 times faster than current high-fidelity simulations while maintaining good accuracy. By enabling reliable drag predictions early in the design process, AeroMap can reduce the need for costly wind tunnel testing and large-scale simulations, thereby accelerating design iterations and improving fuel efficiency. AeroMap’s approach is based on a viscous-coupled full potential method that combines a simplified form of the Navier–Stokes equations with a model of the thin boundary layer of air along the aircraft surface. This allows it to capture the main effects of drag without the computational expense of more detailed simulations. Validated against NASA wind tunnel data, AeroMap shows close agreement with experimental results, making it a practical and reliable tool for sustainable aircraft development. The framework addresses limitations of