Optimization of the Aerodynamic Design of Aircraft Wings Using Genetic Algorithms

Abstract

The quest for best wing design in the realm of aerospace engineering is still an important area. However, with each subsequent development of aircraft, engineers have to deal with creating wings that generate as much lift as possible, with as little drag as possible, and with very good overall aerodynamic performance. In the world of aerodynamic design, this article takes you into the fascinating world of wing optimization and shows how genetic algorithms are transforming the process of aerodynamic design. While the business of flying is ever more cutthroat, as the industry searches for ways to save as much cash as possible, the computational methods employed have gotten ever more sophisticated. Among these, genetic algorithms are shown to be a potent tool for the solution of complex optimization problems. Through the use of analogous abstractions to natural selection, these algorithms provide a strong algorithmic approach for finding the best solutions in the vast design spaces. In this quest amid this exploration, they will unveil the nuances of wing aerodynamics, fundamentals of genetic algorithm and its problem of solving smart wing designs. Starting from the premise of airfoil shapes and progressing through various nuances of computational fluid dynamics we shall traverse the wide spring board of modern aircraft design optimization.