Selection of Real-Coded Genetic Algorithm parameters in solving simulation–optimization problems for the design of water distribution networks

Abstract The design of the water distribution network (WDN) is very difficult mainly due to the nonlinear relation between head and flow. The distribution network should also be cost-effective. In any simulation–optimization approach, the computational time requirement is very high for very complex problems. The optimization module plays a crucial role in reducing the computational time. This study aims to apply a simulation–optimization approach to designing a WDN. EPANET is selected as the simulation model and Real-Coded Genetic Algorithm (RCGA) is selected as the optimization module. To link the simulation module with the optimization module, a program is written in MATLAB. The developed simulation–optimization approach was applied to two benchmark network problems to check the suitability of the method. The parameters of the RCGA were optimized for the two networks. The computational efficiency of the developed simulation–optimization model is checked based on the number of function evaluations. For both networks, the number of function evaluations to get the optimum network design was less than the number of function evaluations required for other methods mentioned in the literature.