Multi-fidelity optimization of super-cavitating hydrofoils

We present an effective multi-fidelity framework for shape optimization of super-cavitating hydrofoils using viscous solvers. We employ state-of-the-art machine learning tools such as multi-fidelity Gaussian process regression and Bayesian optimization to synthesize data obtained from multi-resolution simulations, and efficiently identify optimal configurations in the design space. We validate our simulation results against experimental data, and showcase the efficiency of the proposed work-flow in a realistic design problem involving the shape optimization of a three-dimensional super-cavitating hydrofoil parametrized by 17 design variables. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.