HPC Training Series - Course 20 "Gradient-based and gradient-free optimization, with applications to CFD and beyond"
EuroCC@Greece and the National Technical University of Athens announce the 20th Course of HPC Training Series with the subject "Gradient-based and gradient-free optimization, with applications to CFD and beyond".
Date: March 4th, 2026, at 10:00 EET
Location: Online via Zoom
Presentation Language: Greek
Audience:
Suitable for students, researchers, and engineers interested in understanding and using optimization algorithms in CFD and other disciplines.
Course Description:
This course includes an introduction to the adjoint-assisted, gradient-based optimization workflow of the open-source CFD toolbox, OpenFOAM, with some demo applications and continues with an introduction to gradient-free optimization methods, such as evolutionary algorithms, with emphasis on metamodels and artificial intelligence for reducing the optimization turnaround time.
Learning Objectives:
The objective of the training is to introduce newcomers to basic concepts related to gradient-based and gradient-free optimization, in the field of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and beyond. At the end of the training, the attendees should have understood what shape and topology optimization is and should be able to set up a simple shape optimization case in OpenFOAM. Additionally, attendees should have understood the pros and cons of gradient-based and gradient-free optimization methods and be able to choose between them, depending on their optimization problem.
Prerequisites:
A prior knowledge of the basics of OpenFOAM is beneficial for following the corresponding part of the course. Basic understanding of fluid mechanics, linear algebra and CFD are also useful background knowledge for following the training.
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