Improved simulated annealing search for structural optimization

An optimization algorithm based on simulated annealing is proposed, in which the domain of the search is successively reduced based on a probability concept until the stopping criteria are satisfied. By introducing the ideas of probability cumulative distribution function and stable energy, the selection of initial temperature and equilibrium criterion in the process of simulated annealing becomes easy and effective. Numerical studies using a set of standard test functions and an example of a 10-bar truss show that the approach is effective and robust in solving both functional and structural optimization problems.