VARIABLE-COMPLEXITY GENETIC ALGORITHM FOR TOPOLOGICAL DESIGN

Genetic algorithms are known to be appropriate for optimization in nonsmooth domains. A variable-complexity algorithm has been developed for use in topological design problems. The system starts with simple descriptions and adds degrees of freedom to allow development of more complex designs as optimization proceeds. The algorithm is applied in two different domains: design of low-speed nonplanar wings to minimize induced drag or total drag and design of structural trusses to minimize weight. In each domain, special constraint-handling schemes are introduced to improve performance. Calculus-based optimization in smooth subspaces is also employed to improve efficiency. These successful applications demonstrate that the variable-complexity algorithm is an important new tool for topological design.