Wing Optimization Using Design of Experiment, Response Surface, and Data Fusion Methods

An empirical drag prediction model plus design of experiment, response surface, and data-fusionmethods are brought together with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to provide a wing optimization system. This system allows high-quality designs to be found using a full three-dimensional CFD code without the expense of direct searches. The metamodels built are shown to be more accurate than the initial empirical model or than simple response surfaces based on the CFD data alone. Data fusion is achieved by building a response surface kriging of the differences between the two drag prediction tools, which are working at varying levels of fidelity. The kriging is then used with the empirical tool to predict the drags coming from the CFD code. This process is much quicker to use than direct searches of the CFD.