Hybridizing the electromagnetism-like algorithm with descent search for solving engineering design problems

• Published in: International journal of computer mathematics Vol. 86; no. 10-11; pp. 1932 - 1946
• Main Authors: Rocha, Ana Maria A.C., Fernandes, Edite M.G.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 01.11.2009; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Algorithms; descent search; Design; Electromagnetism; electromagnetism-like mechanism; engineering design problems; Engineering firms; hybrid method; Hybridization; Problem solving; sufficient reduction
• ISSN: 0020-7160; 1026-7425; 1029-0265; 1029-0265
• DOI: 10.1080/00207160902971533

In this paper, we present a new stochastic hybrid technique for constrained global optimization. It is a combination of the electromagnetism-like (EM) mechanism with a random local search, which is a derivative-free procedure with high ability of producing a descent direction. Since the original EM algorithm is specifically designed for solving bound constrained problems, the approach herein adopted for handling the inequality constraints of the problem relies on selective conditions that impose a sufficient reduction either in the constraints violation or in the objective function value, when comparing two points at a time. The hybrid EM method is tested on a set of benchmark engineering design problems and the numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. A comparison with results from other stochastic methods is also included.