Truss Structure Optimization Design Based on FE-PSO-SQP Algorithm

Compared with other structural optimization design algorithms, particle swarm optimization (PSO) gains many superiorities, like being easy to understand the principle and fewer parameters in the calculation model. When we use the PSO to deal with truss structure optimization problems, this algorithm usually has low computational accuracy, slow rates of convergence, and poor population varieties in the further model calculation. To overcome these shortcomings and better solve the truss structure optimization problem, FE-PSO-SQP algorithm, a new structure optimization method, is proposed herein by combining the PSO algorithm with the sequential quadratic programming (SQP) algorithm and finite element method (FE). In addition, a set of calculation program is developed by ANSYS software. When the self-made program is used to conduct simulation calculation on the truss structure optimization problem, the calculation results show that FE-PSO-SQP algorithm has faster convergence speed and higher calculation accuracy than FE-PSO algorithm, and can be used for structure optimization design.