The genetic algorithm-radial basis function neural network to quickly predict aerodynamic performance of compressors

In this paper, compressor aerodynamic performance has been predicted based on throughflow theory, combined with a surrogate model, which is a combination of the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and generalized Radial Basis function (RBF) neural network. And the predicting results have been compared with those from the traditional models and spanwise mixing model, which still widely be used to predict the aerodynamic performance. We first predicted the deviation angle and total-pressure loss coefficient (TPLC) by the surrogate model, and then using these two intermediate variables connected the model with throughflow theory. The pressure ratio and efficiency, representing the compressors’ total performance parameters, are predicted and compared with experimental data. In order to increase the accuracy of prediction, a data augmentation method based on the piecewise cubic Hermite interpolation (PCHIP) algorithm is introduced to enlarge the training database. At the same time, considering the vast differences of deviation angle and loss in different working conditions as well as aerodynamic and geometric differences of rotor and stator, the database and the network should be split into six components based on the choke, the normal and the stall conditions as well as rotor and stator. Then, the performance curves of pressure ratio and efficiency can be determined by an iteration process. The predicting results are compared with experimental data, which shows that the surrogate model matches experiments much better than those from the traditional models and spanwise mixing model.