Optimization With Variable-Fidelity Models Applied to Wing Design

Abstract

This work discusses an approach, the Approximation Management Framework (AMF), for solving optimization problems that involve computationally expensive simulations. AMF aims to maximize the use of lower fidelity, cheaper models in iterative procedures with occasional, but systematic, recourse to higher fidelity, more expensive models for monitoring the progress of the algorithm. The method is globally convergent to a solution of the original, high fidelity problem. Three versions of AMF, based on three nonlinear programming algorithms, are demonstrated on a 3D aerodynamic wing optimization problem and a 2D airfoil optimization problem. In both cases Euler analysis solved on meshes of various refinement provides a suite of variable fidelity models. Preliminary results indicate threefold savings in terms of high fidelity analyses in case of the 3D problem and twofold savings for the 2D problem.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA371451

Entities

People

  • Clyde R. Gumbert
  • Larry L. Green
  • Natalia M. Alexandrov
  • Perry A. Newman
  • Robert Michael Lewis

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Algorithms
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computations
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Consistency
  • Convergence
  • Demonstrations
  • Efficiency
  • Engineering
  • Euler Equations
  • Optimization
  • Reliability
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional

Readers

  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Systems Analysis and Design