Optimum design of a damping plate with an unconstrained viscoelastic damping layer using combined genetic algorithm

In this paper the genetic algorithm coupled with the tabu search method for optimum design is presented. Basically, the new algorithm is obtained by assembling certain characteristics of the tabu search method into the standard genetic algorithm. The numerical performance of the new algorithm is tested on the optimization of a classical test function. Finally, an optimum distribution of the damping layer which is cohered on a steel plate is studied using this algorithm in order to maximize the modal loss factor of the damping plate.