Case Study: Westlake University speeds hydrodynamics experiments with MathWorks

Westlake University - Customer Case Study

Westlake University, working with MathWorks, faced the immense challenge of experimentally studying complex hydrodynamics. The task of mapping the effects of numerous parameters on underwater structures like oil drilling risers was computationally prohibitive, as it could require up to 100 million manual experiments. This "curse of dimensionality" made it practically impossible to collect the necessary data to understand and predict vortex-induced vibrations.

The solution implemented by MathWorks used MATLAB as the central "brain" of an Intelligent Towing Tank. This system automated experiments and, crucially, used algorithms like Gaussian process regression from Optimization Toolbox to intelligently select which test to run next, targeting areas of greatest uncertainty. As a result, the MathWorks-powered system achieved certainty in its predictions after fewer than 4,000 tests, completing a PhD's worth of experiments in two weeks instead of what would have taken a lifetime.

Westlake University

Dixia Fan

Assistant Professor