Aerodynamic Optimization of Airfoils Using Adaptive Parameterization and Genetic Algorithm

A new method for airfoil shape parameterization is presented, and its influences on the optimum design and convergence of the evolutionary optimization process are investigated. An online adaptive method is used that alters the airfoil parametric function during the process of optimization. A geometric inverse design is carried out, and the capability of the method for producing general airfoil shapes is assessed. The performance of the method is then evaluated by aerodynamic shape optimization. The result indicates that the proposed method improves the optimum design airfoil significantly. In addition, it reduces the total number of flow solver calls, which consequently reduces the required computational time.