Numerical Optimization for Advanced Turbomachinery Design

The multilevel-multidisciplinary-multipoint optimization system developed at the von Karman Institute and its applications to turboma-chinery design is presented. To speed up the convergence to the optimum geometry, the method combines an Artificial Neural Network, a Design Of Experiment technique and a Genetic Algorithm. The different components are described, the main requirements are outlined and the basic method is illustrated by the design of an axial turbine blade.