There are several reasons why optimization methods can at this time not be considered in routine design work:
1/ Lack of computational resources: Everybody is enjoying that those resources have increased quite a lot recently, but nevertheless design optimization work is still seen as too costly.
2/ The need for multi-operating-points: For quite some time optimization and inverse design techniques would be focused on one single operating point, with no guarantee or control of the off-design performance, choke flow, performance at lower speeds,… Investing in a significant effort without guaranteed ROI is clearly limiting the interest of designers working under pressure and with time constraints.
3/ The multi-disciplinary need: Especially for designs working under strong mechanical pressure, such as turbochargers, an optimization limited to aerodynamic performance and not offering control or verification of the mechanical integrity is also not so interesting.
NUMECA’s FINE™/Design3D design optimization software offers solutions to all 3 items mentioned above: