Introduction to SENSE

SENSE determines discrete solutions to the linear sensitivity equations (via the so called Sensitivity Equation Method). Because the software yields gradients of the flow with respect to a generic parameter, the software is closely tied to aerodynamic shape optimization. However, many other uses exist such as the computation of force/moment stability derivatives, rapid re-analysis of aerodynamic configurations, determining design-variable hierarchy, building better response surfaces, accelerating parametric studies and building neural networks to name just a few. If you have any application where knowledge of how the flow changes with respect to a parameter, then SENSE will most likely be a useful tool.

Within SENSE, the user may prescribe any number of geometric and/or flow-related design parameters and the software will return the sensitivity of the flow field to those given parameters. So, you ask, what's required? The user prescribes grid and solution files in Plot3D format and then prescribes the boundary conditions. The solver returns the gradient of the flow variables with respect to your parameters at each computational cell. SENSE also includes several utility programs for pre- and post-processing. These utilities can be used to generate XY plots, integrate the gradients or produce flow-visualization files.

SENSE has been designed from the beginning to minimize the amount of user input. For example, if the user provides a Plot3D formatted grid, the SENSE package can glean information about zonal boundaries, sequencing, boundary conditions, and a default input file for the sensitivity solver. The input is entered using "control words" rather than specifying integer flags which represent an option. This approach is a compromise between complex data files and a graphical user interface. Much of set-up and numerical algorithms take place behind the scenes so the user can focus on the sensitivity/design problem and not (hopefully) on getting the software to work.

The technology in SENSE is based on a continuous sensitivity-equations method where the governing equation is derived at the PDE (or integral) level and then discretized. SENSE is capable of providing accurate flow sensitivities to either flow-related or geometric design variables. The current technology uses a characteristic-based flux splitting to solve a discrete approximation to the continuous sensitivity equations. The software has been developed for inviscid, laminar and/or chemically reacting flows. Support for turbulent flows will arrive in the near future.

The software supports structured, multi-zone (abutting) flow solutions provided in either ASCII or binary Plot3D format. The user would provide both a grid and a flow solution of conservative variables. The SENSE software does not depend upon any specific flow solver or upon any flow-simulation method. If you can provide a Plot3D solution, you can use SENSE. The software is presented as a post-processor to your flow solver to help design, change or analyze your aerodynamic problems.

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