A new efficient technology of aerodynamic design based on CFD driven optimization

Abstract This paper describes a new technology of aerodynamic design based on CFD driven constrained optimization to minimum drag. Within an aircraft development project we focus on the aerodynamic design of wings and show how the design process has been advanced with the new capabilities achieved through the use of the recently developed in-house optimization tool OPTIMAS. The optimization method of the present work is based on the use of Genetic Algorithms and accurate full Navier–Stokes drag prediction. The results include a variety of optimization cases for aerodynamic design of transport-type aircrafts.