Acrodynamic Optimization Design of Transonic Airfoil and Wing

Two optimization methods, variable error polyhedron method (VEP) and genetic algorithm (GA), are combined with aerodynamic analysis of two-and three-dimensional Euler equations solvers resperctively, to carry out aerodynamic optimization design of transonic airfoil NACA0012 and wing ONERA-M6. Compared the two methods appied on aerodynamic optimization design to determine optimum mass and their computing efficiency. The concisions are: First, optimization result and efficiency depend on selections of objective function, constraints and design variables. On same conditions, difference between designs using of different optimization method is related to the properties of optimization problems. Secondly, in common, stochastic methods, compared with conventional determinate method such as variable error polyhedron method, when used in aerodynamic design, make it easy to get optimizatioin design results with higher quality but much more computational cost is required. When optimization design will be laid particular stress on high quality, the more reasonable answer for selection of optimization method falls into stochastic methods, otherwise, determinate methods such as variable error polyhedron may be the best choice. Lastly, if stochastic method is combined with determinate method, better tradeoff may be obtained between quality and efficiency of optimization.