Generative adversarial network for inverse design of airfoils with flow control devices

Deep learning has recently gained prominence in fluid dynamics due to advances in computational power, algorithm development, and data availability. While most applications have focused on modeling and control, its potential for design and optimization remains relatively unexplored. In this study, a conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN) was developed for inverse design of airfoils with flow control devices. This CGAN receives the characteristics of the flow (Reynolds number and angle of attack) and the desired aerodynamic characteristics (drag and lift coefficients). Based on those inputs, the CGAN generates an airfoil that fulfills the defined specifications. With this objective, numerical simulations of 4-digit NACA airfoils with variable flap configurations and flow conditions were conducted, in order to obtain the necessary aerodynamic data for training and testing the CGAN. The results demonstrate that the proposed CGAN generates airfoil geometries with high accuracy and efficiency, showing minor deviations from real geometries and achieving aerodynamic performances that approach the desired ones for all the flow conditions considered. Additionally, the model is able to generalize to extreme cases not seen during training, which significantly broadens its application range. This approach offers a significant reduction in computational time compared to traditional iterative optimization methods, making it suitable for rapid design exploration and real-time applications.