Pages 1-9
A genetic algorithm(GA)based optimization technique is used in combination with boundary element method. Firstly, the boundary element method is applied to analyze the hydrofoil for a wide range of angles of attack, aspect ratios, and maximum camber and thickness ratios assuming that the thickness and camber distributions of hydrofoil section are given. Then the lift, drag and other parameters involved in the imposed constraints are approximated by the second-degree polynomial functions of angle of attack, aspect ratio and maximum camber and thickness ratios. The coefficients of these polynomials are solved by the method of least squares using the information provided by the boundary element analysis. The optimization algorithm then searches for an improved geometry of the hydrofoil of minimum drag satisfying all of the specified requirements.
