Multidisciplinary Optimization of Propeller Design for eVTOL Vehicles Using CHARM and Genetic Algorithms

Over the years, Genetic Algorithms (GAs) have increasingly lent their power to various aspects of aircraft design, benefiting from the multitude of advancements made in computational power and learning algorithms. Their ability to efficiently explore large and complex design spaces make them well-suited for scale aircraft optimization and highlights potential for GAs to outperform traditional design and analysis methods. This paper explores ways of using GAs to design and optimize a propeller aircraft application, with the Comprehensive Hierarchical Aeromechanics Rotorcraft Model (CHARM) used for aerodynamic simulations and OpenMDAO as a backbone for the GA model. The results are compared with thrust stand test results from the physical propeller.