Efficient aerodynamic shape optimization using variable-fidelity surrogate models and multilevel computational grids

A variable-fidelity method can remarkably improve the efficiency of a design optimization based on a high-fidelity and expensive numerical simulation, with assistance of lower-fidelity and cheaper simulation(s). However, most existing works only incorporate “two” levels of fidelity, and thus efficiency improvement is very limited. In order to reduce the number of high-fidelity simulations as many as possible, there is a strong need to extend it to three or more fidelities. This article proposes a novel variable-fidelity optimization approach with application to aerodynamic design. Its key ingredient is the theory and algorithm of a Multi-level Hierarchical Kriging (MHK), which is referred to as a surrogate model that can incorporate simulation data with arbitrary levels of fidelity. The high-fidelity model is defined as a CFD simulation using a fine grid and the lower-fidelity models are defined as the same CFD model but with coarser grids, which are determined through a grid convergence study. First, sampling shapes are selected for each level of fidelity via technique of Design of Experiments (DoE). Then, CFD simulations are conducted and the output data of varying fidelity is used to build initial MHK models for objective (e.g. C_D) and constraint (e.g. C_L, C_m) functions. Next, new samples are selected through infill-sampling criteria and the surrogate models are repetitively updated until a global optimum is found. The proposed method is validated by analytical test cases and applied to aerodynamic shape optimization of a NACA0012 airfoil and an ONERA M6 wing in transonic flows. The results confirm that the proposed method can significantly improve the optimization efficiency and apparently outperforms the existing single-fidelity or two-level-fidelity method.     

粒子群优化的Kriging近似模型及其在可靠性分析中的应用

将粒子群优化(PSO)算法引入Kriging建模过程,依靠PSO算法的群体搜索能力克服了模式搜索法单点序列搜索方式的局限性以及严重依赖于初猜解的缺点,保证了在任意初始条件下都能获取极大似然意义下的最优相关参数,从而有效确保了Kriging预测结果的最优无偏性.涡轮盘低循环疲劳可靠性分析实例表明,粒子群优化的Kriging(PSO-Kriging)近似模型对危险点周向应变变程的预测精度相对神经网络有数量级上的优势(最大误差由5.94%降低到0.09%),可不牺牲精度地代替有限元程序进行Monte Carlo模拟;同时PSO-Kriging建模与预测的总时间不及一次有限元分析的1/10.由于预测精度高(其最优无偏性由PSO算法保证)且计算开销不大,提出的PSO-Kriging对于实际工程结构的可靠性分析有一定应用价值.      

A study of morphing aircraft on morphing rules along trajectory

Morphing aircraft can meet requirements of multi-mission during the whole flight due to changing the aerodynamic shape, so it is necessary to study its morphing rules along the trajectory. However, trajectory planning considering morphing variables requires a huge number of expensive CFD computations due to the morphing in view of aerodynamic performance. Under the given missions and trajectory, to alleviate computational cost and improve trajectory-planning efficiency for morphing aircraft, an offline optimization method is proposed based on Multi-Fidelity Kriging (MFK) modeling. The angle of attack, Mach number, sweep angle and axial position of the morphing wing are defined as variables for generating training data for building the MFK models, in which many inviscid aerodynamic solutions are used as low-fidelity data, while the less high-fidelity data are obtained by solving viscous flow. Then the built MFK models of the lift, drag and pressure centre at the different angles of attack and Mach numbers are used to predict the aerodynamic performance of the morphing aircraft, which keeps the optimal sweep angle and axial position of the wing during trajectory planning. Hence, the morphing rules can be correspondingly acquired along the trajectory, as well as keep the aircraft with the best aerodynamic performance during the whole task. The trajectory planning of a morphing aircraft was performed with the optimal aerodynamic performance based on the MFK models, built by only using 240 low-fidelity data and 110 high-fidelity data. The results indicate that a complex trajectory can take advantage of morphing rules in keeping good aerodynamic performance, and the proposed method is more efficient than trajectory optimization by reducing 86% of the computing time.     

飞机多学科设计优化中的近似方法分析

首先介绍了近似方法中的二次响应面方法、径向基神经网络方法、Kriging方法和增强的径向基函数方法。结合测试函数和某机翼模型为例,分别用这四种方法构造测试函数和某机翼结构和气动学科的近似模型,并总结这四种方法的特点和在对各种模型近似中的适用性。结果表明,Kriging方法和增强的径向基函数方法的近似是非常精确和稳健的。     

基于梯度增强型Kriging模型的气动反设计方法

基于Kriging模型的代理优化算法目前在气动优化设计中得到了广泛应用。但在高维(设计变量大于30个)气动优化中,计算量过大的问题对其进一步发展产生了严重制约。将翼型和机翼气动反设计问题转化为优化问题,采用Adjoint方法进行快速梯度求解,利用基于梯度增强型Kriging(GEK)模型的代理优化算法分别开展了18、36和108个设计变量的气动反设计。首先,通过采用在设计空间局部建立GEK模型的方法成功地将基于代理优化算法的气动反设计问题的维度拓展到了100维以上。其次,研究了梯度计算精度对基于GEK模型的反设计的影响,发现梯度精度越高,反设计的最终效果越好,同时效率相当。最后,通过不同维度的气动反设计算例,比较了改进拟牛顿法(BFGS)、基于GEK模型和Kriging模型的代理气动反设计方法,结果表明基于GEK模型的代理优化算法的效率大幅度高于基于Kriging模型的代理优化算法,并且维度越高,效率优势越明显;同时,基于GEK模型的代理优化算法在优化效果及分析程序调用次数上相比于BFGS方法也略有优势。     

An efficient algorithm for calculating Profust failure probability

For efficiently estimating the Profust failure probability based on probability input variables and fuzzy-state assumption, a General Performance Function(GPF) expression is established under the strict mathematical derivation for the Profust reliability model. By constructing the GPF,the calculation of the Profust failure probability can be transformed into the calculation of the traditional failure probability. Then various existing methods for the traditional failure probability can be used to estimate the Profust failure probability. Due to the high efficiency of the Adaptive Kriging(AK) model and the universality of the Monte Carlo Simulation(MCS), AK inserted MCS(abbreviated as AK-MCS) has been proven to be an efficient method for estimating the failure probability. Therefore, the AK-MCS combined with the GPF(abbreviated as AK-MCS + GPF)is proposed for estimating Profust failure probability. The proposed method greatly reduces the computational cost while ensuring the accuracy. Finally, four examples are given to validate the proposed AK-MCS + GPF. The results of the examples show the rationality and the efficiency of the proposed AK-MCS + GPF.     

压气机叶片加工误差影响不确定分析

为了正确评估加工误差的影响,提出了一种考虑加工误差大小、分布随机性的数值研究方法以实现叶片性能不确定性分析。采用NURBS(非均匀有理B样条) 方法实现叶型参数化,通过检测及统计手段获取误差真实分布,运用蒙特卡洛模拟生成随机样本,并训练Kriging代理模型进行不确定性分析,得到了叶片加工误差对气动性能的影响。结果表明:加工误差对气动性能的影响与所处工况有关,最高使得损失增加0.853%;叶型性能对于吸力面表面型线更为敏感,在加工及检测过程应给予更高要求。      

Rotorcraft flight endurance estimation based on a new battery discharge model

To avoid the numerical complexities of the battery discharge law of electric-powered rotorcrafts,this study uses the Kriging method to model the discharge characteristics of Li-Po batteries under standard conditions.A linear current compensation term and an ambient temperature compensation term based on radial basis functions are then applied to the trained Kriging model,leading to the complete discharged capacity-terminal voltage model.Using an orthogonal experimental design and a sequential method,the coefficients of the current and ambient temperature compensation terms are determined through robust optimization.An endurance calculation model for electric-powered rotorcrafts is then established,based on the battery discharge model,through numerical integration.Laboratory tests show that the maximum relative error of the proposed discharged capacity-terminal voltage model at detection points is 0.0086,and that of the rotorcraft endurance calculation model is 0.0195,thus verifying their accuracy.A flight test further demonstrates the applicability of the proposed endurance model to general electric-powered rotorcrafts.     

耦合梯度与分级Kriging模型的高效气动优化方法

Kriging代理模型中引入梯度信息能够提高模型的预测精度,但常规耦合梯度的方法都有不足之处。本文结合分级Kriging模型,提出了一种变可信度分级Kriging模型耦合梯度（GEHK）信息的新方法。首先利用梯度信息,选取扰动步长得到初始样本点附近的派生点,以派生点拟合出能够预测目标函数趋势的低精度Kriging模型。然后以初始样本点修正该模型得到高精度的Kriging模型。翼型减阻优化设计算例表明,与常规耦合梯度的Kriging模型相比,基于分级Kriging的梯度耦合方法对于扰动步长引入的误差不敏感,明显提高了模型预测精度,优化效率因此提升并使得目标函数值下降得更加迅速。相比Euler解作为低精度数据的常规分级Kriging模型,由梯度信息得到的派生点为模型提供了更准确的全局趋势预测,取得了更好的优化结果。本文方法成功应用于翼型多点减阻优化问题,说明该方法对复杂设计问题有很好的适应性。基于分级Kriging模型的耦合梯度方法克服了常规方法的缺点,提高了模型全局拟合精度,是一种优化效率更高的Kriging方法。     

Aerodynamic design optimization of nacelle/pylon position on an aircraft

The arbitrary space-shape free form deformation (FFD) method developed in this paper is based on non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS) basis function and used for the integral parameterization of nacelle-pylon geometry. The multi-block structured grid deformation technique is established by Delaunay graph mapping method. The optimization objects of aerodynamic characteristics are evaluated by solving NavierStokes equations on the basis of multi-block structured grid. The advanced particle swarm optimization (PSO) is utilized as search algorithm, which com-bines the Kriging model as surrogate model during optimization. The optimization system is used for optimizing the nacelle location of DLR-F6 wing-body-pylon-nacelle. The results indicate that the aerodynamic interference between the parts is significantly reduced. The optimization design system established in this paper has extensive applications and engineering value.