A flexible optimization procedure for mechanical component design based on genetic adaptive search

A flexible algorithm for solving nonlinear engineering design optimization problems involving zero-one, discrete, and continuous variables is presented The algorithm restricts its search only to the permissible values of the variables, thereby reducing the search effort in converging near the optimum solution. The efficiency and ease of application of the proposed method is demonstrated by solving four different mechanical design problems chosen from the optimization literature. These results are encouraging and suggest the use of the technique to other more complex engineering design problems.