Deep convolutional neural network for shape optimization using level-set approach
This work addresses shape optimization problems in aerodynamics, offering a computationally efficient data-driven method, though it is incremental as it builds on existing CNN and level-set techniques.
The authors tackled shape optimization for aerodynamic design by developing a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) reduced-order model using a level-set approach, achieving good agreement with a potential flow solver and significant computational efficiency gains.
This article presents a reduced-order modeling methodology via deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for shape optimization applications. The CNN provides a nonlinear mapping between the shapes and their associated attributes while conserving the equivariance of these attributes to the shape translations. To implicitly represent complex shapes via a CNN-applicable Cartesian structured grid, a level-set method is employed. The CNN-based reduced-order model (ROM) is constructed in a completely data-driven manner thus well suited for non-intrusive applications. We demonstrate our ROM-based shape optimization framework on a gradient-based three-dimensional shape optimization problem to minimize the induced drag of a wing in low-fidelity potential flow. We show a good agreement between ROM-based optimal aerodynamic coefficients and their counterparts obtained via a potential flow solver. The predicted behavior of the optimized shape is consistent with theoretical predictions. We also present the learning mechanism of the deep CNN model in a physically interpretable manner. The CNN-ROM-based shape optimization algorithm exhibits significant computational efficiency compared to the full-order model-based online optimization applications. The proposed algorithm promises to develop a tractable DL-ROM-driven framework for shape optimization and adaptive morphing structures.