Compare the Efficiencies of GA, RPSO, SA, DIRECT Global Optimization Methods

Abstract

Design Optimization is research area which was carried out a lot in the world, with many applications in the specifications of mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, civil engineering. The global optimization methods are more effective than local optimization methods. In this article, the authors will do new research about the efficiencies of GA, RPSO, SA, and DIRECT global optimization methods. It is investigated that RPSO is more accurate and more robust than GA and SA in terms of stochastic global optimization methods. RPSO usually requires a little bit less computational cost than SA, but RPSO requires very much more function calls than SA. SA is more accurate than GA, but SA requires more function calls than GA. Besides, DIRECT is also as accurate, robust as RPSO. DIRECT usually utilizes less computational cost than RPSO. DIRECT requires very much less function calls than RPSO. However, DIRECT is just a deterministic global optimization method, hence it requires some suggestions (hints) about minimal value of objective function, this is a weakness of this method. In summary, each method has its own strengths and weaknesses. The users should choose an appropriate method depending on their different purposes.