# Anvil: An integration of artificial intelligence, sampling techniques, and a combined CAD-CFD tool

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.02519 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.02519/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 7 of its 27 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 24 Jun 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 7 of 7)

- [A Tutorial on Bayesian Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1807.02811/) (2018)
- [Bayesian optimization for materials design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1506.01349/) (2015)
- [Direct shape optimization through deep reinforcement learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1908.09885/) (2019)
- [Data efficient surrogate modeling for engineering design: Ensemble-free batch mode deep active learning for regression](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.10360/) (2022)
- [Constrained Bayesian Optimization for Automatic Underwater Vehicle Hull Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.14732/) (2023)
- [Search for universal minimum drag resistance underwater vehicle hull using CFD](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.09441/) (2023)
- [Sample-Efficient and Surrogate-Based Design Optimization of Underwater Vehicle Hulls](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.12420/) (2023)

## Abstract (arXiv)

In this work, we introduce an open-source integrated CAD-CFD tool, Anvil, which combines FreeCAD for CAD modeling and OpenFOAM for CFD analysis, along with an AI-based optimization method (Bayesian optimization) and other sampling algorithms. Anvil serves as a scientific machine learning tool for shape optimization in three modes: data generation, CFD evaluation, and shape optimization. In data generation mode, it automatically runs CFD evaluations and generates data for training a surrogate model. In optimization mode, it searches for the optimal design under given requirements and optimization metrics. In CFD mode, a single CAD file can be evaluated with a single OpenFOAM run. To use Anvil, experimenters provide a JSON configuration file and a parametric CAD seed design. Anvil can be used to study solid-fluid dynamics for any subsonic flow conditions and has been demonstrated in various simulation and optimization use cases. The open-source code for the tool, installation process, artifacts (such as CAD seed designs and example STL models), experimentation results, and detailed documentation can be found at urlhttps://github.com/symbench/Anvil.