Airfoil shape optimization using Bézier curve and genetic algorithm

Abstract

There are different types of airfoil used in many applications such as energy production, aerospace, mixing of fluid products. Design optimization studies are still being carried out on the airfoil type structures. The airfoil section is the most important factor affecting the quality and efficiency of the performed work. The aim of this study is the optimization of the airfoil shape to generate more lift than the original airfoil shape creates. For this purpose, Bézier curves are used to generate the airfoil polar points, XFOIL is used as a flow solver and MATLAB is used to create optimization codes using the genetic algorithm. The results show that the created optimal airfoil shape produces more lift than the original airfoil shape. In this study, design optimization studies are supported by flow analysis using ANSYS Fluent.

Keywords

• parametric design
• Bézier curve
• computational fluid dynamics
• airfoil shape optimization
• genetic algorithm