Harmony search algorithm for optimum design of steel frame structures: A comparative study with other optimization methods

In this article, a harmony search algorithm is presented for optimum design of steel frame structures. Harmony search is a meta-heuristic search method which has been developed recently. It is<br />based on the analogy between the performance process of natural music and searching for solutions of optimization problems. The design algorithms obtain minimum weight frames by selecting suitable<br />sections from a standard set of steel sections such as American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) wide-flange (W) shapes. Stress constraints of AISC Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) and<br />AISC Allowable Stress Design (ASD) specifications, maximum (lateral displacement) and interstorey drift constraints, and also size constraint for columns were imposed on frames. The results of harmony search<br />algorithm were compared to those of the other optimization algorithms such as genetic algorithm, optimality criterion and simulated annealing for two planar and two space frame structures taken from the<br />literature. The comparisons showed that the harmony search algorithm yielded lighter designs for the design examples presented.