Variational Analysis and Aerospace Engineering

Algorithm Issues and Challenges Associated with the Development of Robust CFD Codes.- Flight Path Optimization at Constant Altitude.- A survey on the Newton problem of optimal profiles.- Innovative Rotor Blade Design Code.- Fields of Extremals and Sufficient Conditions for the Simplest Problem of the Calculus of Variations in -Variables.- A Framework for Aerodynamic Shape Optimization.- Optimal Motions of Multibody Systems in Resistive Media.- Instationary Heat-Constrained Trajectory Optimization of a Hypersonic Space Vehicle by ODE#x2013;PDE-Constrained Optimal Control.- Variational Approaches to Fracture.- On the Problem of Synchronization of Identical Dynamical Systems: The Huygens#x2019;s Clocks.- Best wing system: an exact solution of the Prandtl#x2019;s problem.- Numerical simulation of the dynamics of boats by a variational inequality approach.- Concepts of Active Noise Aircraft Cockpits Reduction Employed in High Noise Level.- Lekhnitskii#x2019;s Formalism for Stress Concentrations Around Irregularities in Anisotropic Plates: Solutions for Arbitrary Boundary Conditions.- Best Initial Conditions for the Rendezvous Maneuver.- Commercial Aircraft Design for Reduced Noise and Environmental Impact.- Variational Approach to the Problem of the Minimum Induced Drag of Wings.- Plastic Hinges in a Beam.- Problems of Minimal and Maximal Aerodynamic Resistance..- Shock Optimization for Airfoil Design Problems.- Differential Games Treated by a Gradient#x2013;Restoration Approach.- Interval Methods for Optimal Control.- Application of Optimisation Algorithms to Aircraft Aerodynamics.- Different levels of Optimization in Aircraft Design.- Numerical and Analytical Methods for Global Optimization.- The Aeroservoelasticity Qualification Process in Alenia.- Further Steps towards Quantitative Conceptual Aircraft Design.- Some Plebeian Variational Problems.

This proceedings volume consists of papers presented at the Variational Analysis and Aerospace Engineering conference held in Erice, Italy in September 2007 at the International School of Mathematics, Guido Stampacchia.

The workshop provided a platform for aerospace engineers and mathematicians (from universities, research centers and industry) to discuss the advanced problems requiring an extensive application of mathematics. Important mathematical methods have been developed and extensively applied in the field of aerospace engineering. Topics and contributions at the workshop concentrated on the most advanced mathematical methods in engineering such as computational fluid dynamics methods, the introduction of new materials, theory of optimization, optimization methods applied in aerodynamics, theory of structures, space missions, flight mechanics, theories of control, algebraic geometry for CAD applications, and variational methods and applications.

Advanced graduate students, researchers, and professionals in mathematics and engineering will find this volume useful.

This work is dedicated to Professor Angelo Miele, an eminent mathematician and engineer, on the occasion of his 85th birthday.