Water-salt transport optimizer for solving continuous and discrete global optimization problems

The Water-Salt Transport Optimizer introduces a novel, nature-inspired metaheuristic model that blends the complexity of natural phenomena with computational efficiency for optimization tasks. Drawing inspiration from the transport of water and salt in soil, Water-Salt Transport Optimizer employs a unique, three-pronged approach: mechanical dispersion for global search, molecular diffusion for local refinement, and a distinctive particle mutation mechanism to preserve diversity. This combination effectively prevents premature convergence, fostering a dynamic search process that balances exploration and exploitation. Extensive benchmarking against 116 Congress on Evolutionary Computation 2017 benchmark functions, 6 engineering problems, 7 vehicle routing problems, and a cold chain distribution logistics model demonstrates Water-Salt Transport Optimizer 's superior performance, surpassing 33 established algorithms. Statistical analyses validate these findings, highlighting Water-Salt Transport Optimizer's adaptability and promising potential across a wide range of optimization applications. In the spirit of advancing collaborative research, all relevant materials related to Water-Salt Transport Optimizer will be made openly available upon acceptance to facilitate future investigations.