A new PSRO algorithm for frequency constraint truss shape and size optimization

In this paper a new particle swam ray optimization algorithm is proposed for truss shape and size optimization with natural frequency constraints. These problems are believed to represent nonlinear and non-convex search spaces with several local optima and therefore are suitable for examining the capabilities of new algorithms. The proposed algorithm can be viewed as a hybridization of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and the recently proposed Ray Optimization (RO) algorithms. In fact the exploration capabilities of the PSO are tried to be promoted using some concepts of the RO. Five numerical examples are examined in order to inspect the viability of the proposed algorithm. The results are compared with those of the PSO and some other existing algorithms. It is shown that the proposed algorithm obtains lighter structures in comparison to other methods most of the time. As will be discussed, the algorithm's performance can be attributed to its appropriate exploration/exploitation balance.