Department of Aerospace Engineering, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), despite its high accuracy in analyzing subsonic air inlets, restricts iterative design and optimization processes due to its significant computational cost. This study introduces a data-driven hybrid surrogate model capable of predicting static and stagnation pressures, drag force, Mach number, and Velocity Uniformity Index (VUI) with industrial-level precision. The model reduces Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) computation time from several hours to less than 5 milliseconds on a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). The proposed framework relies on a Sparse Linear Model of Coregionalization Gaussian Process Regression (Sparse LMC-GPR with Matern 2.5 and Rational Quadratic kernels, and 15% inducing points) for high-variance quantities, and a boosted Random Forest model (with 500 trees) for low-variance outputs. A deterministic seed search (range 0 to 50) identified an optimal value of 20, reducing the 5-fold nRMSE to 0.11. Group cross-validation across 123 different geometries demonstrated nRMSE<0.13 for drag and nRMSE<0.08 for pressures. External validation on 10 random geometries revealed a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) below 0.12% and R2>0.98 for all outputs. Ultimately, by providing calibrated uncertainty estimates, this model offers a reliable alternative to direct CFD solutions, facilitating real-time design and active learning frameworks.
Golshirazi, M., Pazooki, F. & Davari, A. (2026). A hybrid surrogate model of sparse gaussian process and random forest booster for predicting subsonic inlet characteristics. (e743771). Aerospace Knowledge and Technology Journal, 15(1), e743771
MLA
Golshirazi, M., Pazooki, F., & Davari, A. "A hybrid surrogate model of sparse gaussian process and random forest booster for predicting subsonic inlet characteristics" .e743771 , Aerospace Knowledge and Technology Journal, 15, 1, 2026, e743771.
HARVARD
Golshirazi, M., Pazooki, F., & Davari, A. (2026). 'A hybrid surrogate model of sparse gaussian process and random forest booster for predicting subsonic inlet characteristics', Aerospace Knowledge and Technology Journal, 15(1), e743771.
CHICAGO
Golshirazi, M., Pazooki, F. & Davari, A., "A hybrid surrogate model of sparse gaussian process and random forest booster for predicting subsonic inlet characteristics." Aerospace Knowledge and Technology Journal, 15 1 (2026): e743771,
VANCOUVER
Golshirazi M., Pazooki F., Davari A. A hybrid surrogate model of sparse gaussian process and random forest booster for predicting subsonic inlet characteristics. Aerospace Knowledge and Technology Journal. 2026;15(1):e743771 (In Persian).