A New Paradigm in Cost Minimization of Pin Jointed Structures using Natural Metaphor

The present work aims at introducing a robust optimization algorithm called “CMAC-engine”, a blended scheme of Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) and Cost Minimization (CM) algorithms. The feasibility of CMAC-engine is numerically experimented by solving a standard 25-bar space truss in the field of structural engineering. The optimal design obtained using CMAC-engine is then compared with the global optimum designs obtained using other popular heuristics like Genetic Algorithm (GA), Tabu Search (TS), and Simulated Annealing (SA). Numerical investigation confirms that CMAC-engine is superior in terms of quality of the solution and functional evaluations over other optimization techniques in achieving world-class solution.