A new hybrid meta-heuristic algorithm for optimal design of large-scale dome structures

• Published in: Engineering optimization Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 235 - 252
• Main Authors: Kaveh, A., Ilchi Ghazaan, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 01.02.2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Algorithms; cascade optimization; Computing time; Configuration management; Design optimization; dome truss structures; Free vibration; Heuristic methods; large-scale structures; Multiagent systems; optimal design; Optimization techniques; Structural engineering; upper bound strategy (UBS); Upper bounds; Vibrating particles system (VPS) algorithm
• ISSN: 0305-215X; 1029-0273
• DOI: 10.1080/0305215X.2017.1313250

In this article a hybrid algorithm based on a vibrating particles system (VPS) algorithm, multi-design variable configuration (Multi-DVC) cascade optimization, and an upper bound strategy (UBS) is presented for global optimization of large-scale dome truss structures. The new algorithm is called MDVC-UVPS in which the VPS algorithm acts as the main engine of the algorithm. The VPS algorithm is one of the most recent multi-agent meta-heuristic algorithms mimicking the mechanisms of damped free vibration of single degree of freedom systems. In order to handle a large number of variables, cascade sizing optimization utilizing a series of DVCs is used. Moreover, the UBS is utilized to reduce the computational time. Various dome truss examples are studied to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method, as compared to some existing structural optimization techniques. The results indicate that the MDVC-UVPS technique is a powerful search and optimization method for optimizing structural engineering problems.