Ship hydrodynamic optimization by local hybridization of deterministic derivative-free global algorithms

• Global optimization of ship hull forms is enhanced using local hybridization.
• Integration of DIRECT and PSO with derivative-free line search methods.
• Hydrodynamic hull-form optimization of the DTMB 5415 model.
• Hybrid algorithms show faster convergence to the optimum than original methods.

Simulation-based design optimization methods integrate computer simulations, design modification tools, and optimization algorithms. In hydrodynamic applications, often objective functions are computationally expensive and noisy, their derivatives are not directly provided, and the existence of local minima cannot be excluded a priori, which motivates the use of deterministic derivative-free global optimization algorithms. The enhancement of two algorithms of this type, DIRECT (DIviding RECTangles) and DPSO (Deterministic Particle Swarm Optimization), is presented based on global/local hybridization with derivative-free line search methods. The hull-form optimization of the DTMB 5415 model is solved for the reduction of the calm-water resistance at Fr = 0.25, using potential flow and RANS solvers. Six and eleven design variables are used respectively, modifying both the hull and the sonar dome. Hybrid algorithms show a faster convergence towards the global minimum than the original global methods and are a viable option for ship hydrodynamic optimization. A significant resistance reduction is achieved both by potential flow and RANS-based optimizations, showing the effectiveness of the optimization procedure.