A Hybrid Genetic Algorithm for Structural Optimization with Discrete Variables

On the basis of full stress design, a quasi-full stress design is presented for structural optimum design with discrete variables. The structural optimum design with discrete variables under stress and section size constraints can be directly calculated by this method. Through defining a quasi-full stress design operator in the genetic algorithm, a hybrid genetic algorithm for structural optimization with discrete variables, combined the advances of both genetic algorithm and quasi-full stress design method, is presented in this paper. The numerical results show that the method is superior to genetic algorithm and quasi-full stress design method.