Nonintrusive aerodynamic shape optimisation with a POD-DEIM based trust region method

This work presents a strategy to build reduced-order models suitable for aerodynamic shape optimisation, resulting in a multifidelity optimisation framework. A reduced-order model (ROM) based on a discrete empirical interpolation (DEIM) method is employed in lieu of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solvers for fast, nonlinear, aerodynamic modelling. The DEIM builds a set of interpolation points that allows it to reconstruct the flow fields from sets of basis obtained by proper orthogonal decomposition of a matrix of snapshots. The aerodynamic reduced-order model is completed by introducing a nonlinear mapping function between surface deformation and the DEIM interpolation points. The optimisation problem is managed by a trust region algorithm linking the multiple-fidelity solvers, with each subproblem solved using a gradient-based algorithm. The design space is initially restricted; as the optimisation trajectory evolves, new samples enrich the ROM. The proposed methodology is evaluated using a series of transonic viscous test cases based on wing configurations. Results show that for cases with a moderate number of design variables, the approach proposed is competitive with state-of-the-art gradient-based methods; in addition, the use of trust region methodology mitigates the likelihood of the optimiser converging to, shallower, local minima.