Discrete Optimization of Truss Structure Using Genetic Algorithm (original) (raw)

During the last few years, several methods have been developed for the optimal design of structures. However, most of them, because of their calculus-based nature, treat the search space of the problem as continuous, when it is really discrete. Sometimes this leads to unrealistic solutions and therefore, they are not used in practice, which still prefers to rely on the more traditional iterative methods. This paper describes and uses genetic algorithm approach which explains that in a certain community, only the best organisms survive from all the adverse effects, i.e.,“ survival of the fittest ”. This paper describes the use of genetic algorithm (GA) in performing optimization of 2D truss structures to achieve minimum weight. The GA uses fixed length vector of the design variables which are the cross-sectional areas of the members. The objective considered here is minimizing the weight of the structure. The constraints in this problem are the stress and deflection in no member of t...