A HYBRID MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION AND DECISION MAKING PROCEDURE FOR OPTIMAL DESIGN OF TRUSS STRUCTURES

In this paper, a new hybrid method is developed for optimal design of truss structures. This method is based on a modified multi-objective particle swarm optimization, tournament decision making process, and a local search algorithm. In structural design practice, different objectives are usually considered in the selection of the final design in which most of these objectives contradict each other. The use of a multi-objective optimization method guides the decision makers to find the most suitable design. Incorporating a decision making process with this optimization, it becomes possible to find a solution which covers most of the requirements. The developed hybrid algorithm is applied to three truss structures to illustrate its ability in finding the optimal solution.