Optimal preliminary propeller design using nonlinear constrained mathematical programming technique

Abstract

Presented is a nonlinear constrained optimization technique applied to optimal propeller design at the preliminary design stage. The optimization method used is Sequential Unconstrained Minimization Technique - SUMT, which can treat equality and inequality, or only inequality constraints. Both approaches are shown. Application is given for Wageningen B-series and Gawn series propellers. The problem is solved on an Apple II microcomputer. One of the advantages of treating the constrained problem is that the user's knowledge about propellers is not essential, the process is automatic. More realistic propellers are found when design constraints such as D subscript max, N subscript min, and/or Ae/Ao subscript min are applied. Treating blade area ratio as an independent variable shows that, for some cases, higher BAR may be a better choice than lower BAR value.

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