In this study, the effects of the longitudinal and lateral separations of consecutively enlarged-contracted arranged fin pairs, widths of the fins, angle of attack, heights of fins and flow velocity on the heat and pressure drop characteristics were investigated using the Taguchi experimental-design method. Nusselt number and friction factor were considered as performance parameters. An L-18(2(1) * 3(7)) orthogonal array was selected as an experimental plan for the eight parameters mentioned above. First of all, each goal was optimized, separately. Then, all the goals were optimized together, considering the priority of the goals, and the optimum results were found to be fin width of 15 mm, angle of attack of 15 degrees, fin height of 100 mm, span-wise distance between fins of 20 mm, stream-wise distance between fins of 10 mm, span-wise distance between slices of 20 mm, stream-wise distances between slices of 20 turn at a flow velocity of 4 m/s. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.