Vibrating particles system algorithm for truss optimization with multiple natural frequency constraints

In this paper, the recently developed physically inspired non-gradient algorithm is employed for structural optimization with frequency constraints. The algorithm being called vibrating particles system (VPS) mimics the free vibration of single degree of freedom systems with viscous damping. Truss optimization with frequency constraints has attracted substantial attention recently in order to enhance the dynamic performance of structures. These kinds of problems are believed to represent nonlinear and non-convex search spaces with several local optima and therefore are suitable for examining the capabilities of the new algorithms. A set of five truss design problems are considered for evaluating the VPS in this article. The numerical results demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of the new method and its competitive performance to other algorithms for structural optimization problems.