Influence of parameterization method and optimization algorithm on airfoil optimization

Abstract In this study, the impact of parameterization methods and optimization algorithms on the optimization results of the RAE2822 airfoil is examined. Specifically, how variations in the number of design variables, spacing of control points, the scaling scale of the objective function, and line search step of different FFD parameterization methods affect the resistance convergence process are investigated. The results indicate that the number of design variables and the spacing of control points play a significant role in the speed and minimum value of resistance convergence. In contrast, the scaling scale of the objective function and the line search step has a relatively minor impact on resistance optimization.