The Group Search Optimizer and its Application to Truss Structure Design

This paper introduces a novel optimization algorithm, group search optimizer (GSO) algorithm. The implementation method of this algorithm is presented in detail. The GSO is used to investigate the truss structures with continuous variables and was tested by three truss structure optimization problems. The optimization results were compared with those of the particle swarm optimizer (PSO), the particle swarm optimizer with passive congregation (PSOPC) and the heuristic particle swarm optimizer (HPSO). The calculation results show that the GSO has preferable convergence rate and accuracy. Results from the three tested cases illustrate the competitive ability of the GSO to find the optimal results. It is desired for GSO to be used for structural optimal design problems.