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Lightweight Design of Blended-Wing-Body Underwater Glider Skeleton via Integrated Topology and Data-Driven Optimization

Shengfa Wang; Chenxi Zhang; Jinglu Li; Zhilong Wang
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering · Vol. 14, Issue 12 · pp. 1098 · 2026

Abstract

Lightweight design of the skeletal structure is a critical challenge in the development of Blended-Wing-Body Underwater Gliders (BWBUGs). However, existing studies often rely on empirically derived configurations for parameter optimization, which limits the potential to fully exploit structural performance. To address this issue, this paper proposes a design approach for BWBUG skeletal structures that integrates topology optimization with data-driven optimization, termed the TD-Method. Specifically, the TD-Method first applies topology optimization to identify load transfer paths within the BWBUG structure, thereby generating an initial configuration and a parameterized model for subsequent optimization. On this basis, data-driven optimization is employed to extensively explore the design space, enabling lightweight structural design under specified constraints. Finally, a comparative analysis with existing methods demonstrates that the TD-Method achieves superior skeletal structures with enhanced performance, confirming both the effectiveness and advantages.

Bibliographic Information

JournalJournal of Marine Science and Engineering
PublisherMDPI
Publication Date2026-06-13
Publication Year2026
Volume14
Issue12
Pages1098
Document TypeJournal Article
eISSN2077-1312
DOI10.3390/jmse14121098
SubjectMarine science; oceanography; marine engineering; coastal science; marine environment

Access Information

NARA Access CoverageOA / free full text
Journal Homepagehttps://www.mdpi.com/journal/jmse
Publisher PageOpen Publisher Page
This article is openly available from the publisher.