Optimal Design of Plate Structures with Discrete Variables by Group Search Optimizer

This paper presents group search optimizer (GSO) and its improvements for solving the problems of optimal design of plate structures with discrete variables. Group search optimizer (GSO), quick group search optimizer (QGSO) and quick group search optimizer with passive congregation (QGSOPC) are used. The group search optimizers are combined with finite element method to complete the optimal design of plate structures, which using a mapping function method to deal with the discrete variables so that a discrete variable optimization problem is converted into a continuous variable optimization one. Two examples of optimal design of plate structures are given to demonstrate the features of the proposed methods. The results show that the QGSO is able to accelerate the convergence rate effectively and has the fastest convergence rate among these three algorithms. The proposed algorithms are practical and easy to implement in optimization design for plate structures.