LAUSR

A robust optimization method is described in this paper, focusing on the optimization of a variable-camber continuous trailing-edge flap system for drag reduction in transonic cruise. The variable-camber continuous trailing-edge flap, through the rich combination of shapes it can attain, has the potential to provide greater design and operation freedom than conventional flap systems as well as greater efficiency in drag reduction and performance improvement. The deformation shape optimization of such a system, however, when based on rigorous computational fluid dynamics simulations, presents a significant computational challenge because of the high cost of repetitive analyses required. The construction of surrogate models and their use in the optimization process is one common way to tackle this challenge. Here, stochastic kriging is used, extending the commonly used deterministic kriging. Accounting for the intrinsic uncertainty of data, stochastic kriging and the optimization based on it are well suited...