Quantum topology optimisation for aerospace design

Topology optimisation is one of the most powerful engineering design technologies. It is superior to shape and size optimisation as it can theoretically create an optimum object from scratch. There is an ever-growing interest in using topology optimisation in industries for different design problems. An ultimate example is aircraft configuration design. After more than a century of aviation, we still do not know what the optimum configuration for a flying vehicle is. In other words, if we want to transport a given amount of payload over a given distance using state-of-the-art technologies, how should the flying vehicle shape to e.g., minimise energy consumption and in-flight emissions? A topology optimisation technology might be able to answer this question. We have developed a technology for creating flying vehicle configurations using topology optimisation. However, it is still in very early development stages, i.e., it works for the aerodynamic design of micro-air vehicles at very low speeds. However, we need a few million design variables coupled with high-fidelity aerodynamic analysis for such a basic design. Extension of this technology towards more realistic design problems means the need for a few billion design variables coupled with multi-physics (e.g. fluid-structure interaction) solvers. The computational costs of the state-of-the-art technologies for multi-physics topology optimisation are prohibitive for such applications.

Quantum optimisation algorithms are in the early development stages; however, they showed promising potential for accelerating complex optimisation problems. This project aims to investigate the development and application of dedicated quantum optimisation algorithms to solve topology optimisation problems relevant to aerospace design.