Time-efficient hardware-in-the-loop aerodynamic optimization
Time-efficient hardware-in-the-loop aerodynamic optimization
A hardware-in-the-loop system was created for the purpose of aerodynamic optimization. The system was used for fully independent optimization of an automotive diffuser model in a wind tunnel, with linear actuators used to modify the geometry. The model had three degrees of freedom with 7×105 possible configurations. High reliability of the system was demonstrated and its time-efficiency was quantified, with up to 400 configurations tested per hour. The system was tested with two implementations of a genetic algorithm, which demonstrated high consistency and resistance to the noise and hysteresis inherent in experimental data. Next, an attempt was made to minimize the main overheads of the optimization process, that is, the wind tunnel settling time and the measurement sampling time. In the original experiments, these overheads accounted for 35% of the total optimization time. A series of simulated optimization runs using a presampled experimental database were carried out, and it was found that the settling time could be eliminated, and the sampling time reduced to as little as 0.01 s, without a detrimental effect on convergence efficiency. Thus, the average duration of a function evaluation was reduced, and the overall efficiency of the optimization system was improved. The results were validated experimentally and the performance was quantified through hardware-in-The-loop, real-Time optimization of a bluff body equipped with a diffuser. As many as 700 configurations per hour could be tested with the reduced overheads, leading to much faster convergence to the global optimum.
Aerodynamic optimization, Diffusers, Genetic algorithm, Ground effect, Hardware-in-The-loop
Kekus-Kumor, Pawel
75df7010-1b70-465e-920b-0131216c8239
Angland, David
b86880c6-31fa-452b-ada8-4bbd83cda47f
Kekus-Kumor, Pawel
75df7010-1b70-465e-920b-0131216c8239
Angland, David
b86880c6-31fa-452b-ada8-4bbd83cda47f
Kekus-Kumor, Pawel and Angland, David
(2025)
Time-efficient hardware-in-the-loop aerodynamic optimization.
Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 38 (4), [04025046].
(doi:10.1061/JAEEEZ.ASENG-5647).
Abstract
A hardware-in-the-loop system was created for the purpose of aerodynamic optimization. The system was used for fully independent optimization of an automotive diffuser model in a wind tunnel, with linear actuators used to modify the geometry. The model had three degrees of freedom with 7×105 possible configurations. High reliability of the system was demonstrated and its time-efficiency was quantified, with up to 400 configurations tested per hour. The system was tested with two implementations of a genetic algorithm, which demonstrated high consistency and resistance to the noise and hysteresis inherent in experimental data. Next, an attempt was made to minimize the main overheads of the optimization process, that is, the wind tunnel settling time and the measurement sampling time. In the original experiments, these overheads accounted for 35% of the total optimization time. A series of simulated optimization runs using a presampled experimental database were carried out, and it was found that the settling time could be eliminated, and the sampling time reduced to as little as 0.01 s, without a detrimental effect on convergence efficiency. Thus, the average duration of a function evaluation was reduced, and the overall efficiency of the optimization system was improved. The results were validated experimentally and the performance was quantified through hardware-in-The-loop, real-Time optimization of a bluff body equipped with a diffuser. As many as 700 configurations per hour could be tested with the reduced overheads, leading to much faster convergence to the global optimum.
Text
Time-Efficient Hardware-in-the-Loop Aerodynamic Optimisation
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
e-pub ahead of print date: 7 May 2025
Keywords:
Aerodynamic optimization, Diffusers, Genetic algorithm, Ground effect, Hardware-in-The-loop
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 510962
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/510962
ISSN: 0893-1321
PURE UUID: 7278316f-7dc0-484c-8fde-f1067191421c
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 28 Apr 2026 16:38
Last modified: 29 Apr 2026 01:40
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Pawel Kekus-Kumor
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics