Multipoint transonic airfoil design by means of a multiobjective genetic algorithm
A. Vicini, Domenico Quagliarella, A. Vicini, Domenico Quagliarella · 35th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit · 1997
A numerical procedure for the aerodynamic design of transonic airfoils by means of genetic algorithms, with single point, multipoint and multiobjective optimization capabilities, is presented. Both direct and inverse design problems can be faced. In the first part of the work, some results of an investigation on the relative efficiency of different genetic operators combinations are reported; the test problems used to this end consist in the search of the maximum of a mathematical function, and in an aerodynamic inverse design problem. It is shown how different optimization problems are better faced by different genetic algorithms, depending on design space size and topology, and variables cross-correlation. In the second part of the paper, the multiobjective approach to design is introduced, with the aid of two mathematical tests. Afterwards, the problem of the optimization of the drag rise characteristics of a transonic airfoil is addressed; this problem is faced using a single point, a multipoint and a multiobjective approach, and a comparison is established between the results obtained using the three different strategies.