Abstract: In general,parameter optimization design of propeller is a nonlinear problem,and the key to the problem is how to find a set of appropriate parameters under various constraint conditions to make propeller performance best．As a novel evolutionary computation technology,swarm intelligence is now becoming a new research hotspot,and has been successfully applied in many fields．Practice shows that swarm intelligence optimization algorithm is an effective method to solve global optimization problems．In this paper,the principles of particle swarm optimization and artificial bee colony algorithm were introduced．Then on the basis of establishing mathematical model of parameter optimization design of propeller,the swarm intelligence optimization algorithm was employed to solve the problem of parameter optimization design of propeller,and the experimental results indicate that the swarm intelligence optimization algorithm is an effective and potential method for this problem.

Key words: Swarm intelligence,Particle swarm optimization,Artificial bee colony algorithm,Parameter optimization design of propeller,Shipping