Studies in Aerodynamic Optimization Based on Genetic Algorithms

The present paper discusses some aspects associated with the use of genetic algorithms for performing aerodynamic optimization studies. The contributions of the work lie in the assessment of important building blocks of aerodynamic global optimization processes. These building blocks are those concerned with issues that have a considerable effect on the performance of the optimization process and on the characteristics of the obtained solution. The investigated contents encompass the effects of the geometrical parameterization, the influence of the adopted number of individuals on the optimization process, and the effects of the boundary-layer transition location on the final optimized shape. Both two- and three-dimensional aerodynamic optimization studies are performed to address the issues under consideration here.