A direct solution framework for structural optimization problems with interval uncertainties

A direct solution framework based on multi-objective evolutionary algorithm is developed to solve the structural optimization problems with interval uncertainties. The midpoint and radius of the uncertain original objective are treated as two equally important objectives, which are solved by a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm. The satisfaction value of interval possibility degree model is utilized to deal with nonlinear uncertain constraints and then the degree of constraint violation based on this model is calculated to judge the design vector individuals which one is feasible or infeasible. Subsequently, a selection strategy based on interval constrained-domination rule is utilized to realize the ranking of different design vectors. Finally, two numerical examples and the structural design of augmented reality glasses are investigated to verify the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

A new multi-objective genetic algorithm applied to hot-rolling process

A new genetic algorithms based multi-objective optimization algorithm (NMGA) has been developed during study. It works on a neighborhood concept in the functional space, utilizes the ideas on weak dominance and ranking and uses its own procedures for population sizing. The algorithm was successfully tested with some standard test functions, and when applied to a real-life data of the hot-rolling campaign of an integrated steel plant, it outperformed another recently developed multi-objective evolutionary algorithm.     

多品种柔性生产企业的订单调度模型及其遗传算法

以订单总完工时间最小和订单平均流程时间最小为目标函数,利用改进的多目标遗传算法生成了多品种订单调度模型.为解决组合模型的指数爆炸问题,提出了一种按规则分配订单以及订单中各作业排序相结合的集成调度思想;以一种整数和字母组合的编码方法用于可行解的表达,并在每个分目标的进化过程中,对选择、交叉、变异算子以及精英解保留策略重新进行设计,保证了解的分布性和均匀性;同时还提出了一种新的终止条件,将精英种群与分目标的子种群进行合并,从而加快收敛的速度.以典型的订单生产企业为例进行仿真实验,实验结果表明,应用该算法可以获得满意的Pareto解集.     

A multi-objective capacitated rural school bus routing problem with heterogeneous fleet and mixed loads

Four multi-objective meta-heuristic algorithms are presented to solve a multi-objective capacitated rural school bus routing problem with a heterogeneous fleet and mixed loads. Three objectives are considered: the total weighted traveling time of the students, the balance of routes among drivers, and the routing costs. The proposed methods were compared with one from the literature, and their performance assessed observing three multi-objective metrics: cardinality, coverage, and hyper-volume. All four devised methods outperformed the one from the literature. The algorithm with a path relinking procedure embedded during the crowding distance selection scheme had the best overall performance.     

Solving a new stochastic multi-mode p-hub covering location problem considering risk by a novel multi-objective algorithm

In this paper, we develop a novel stochastic multi-objective multi-mode transportation model for hub covering location problem under uncertainty. The transportation time between each pair of nodes is an uncertain parameter and also is influenced by a risk factor in the network. We extend the traditional comprehensive hub location problem by considering two new objective functions. So, our multi-objective model includes (i) minimization of total current investment costs and (ii) minimization of maximum transportation time between each origin–destination pair in the network. Besides, a novel multi-objective imperialist competitive algorithm (MOICA) is proposed to obtain the Pareto-optimal solutions of the problem. The performance of the proposed solution algorithm is compared with two well-known meta-heuristics, namely, non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and Pareto archive evolution strategy (PAES). Computational results show that MOICA outperforms the other meta-heuristics.     

Effects of diversity control in single-objective and multi-objective genetic algorithms

This paper covers an investigation on the effects of diversity control in the search performances of single-objective and multi-objective genetic algorithms. The diversity control is achieved by means of eliminating duplicated individuals in the population and dictating the survival of non-elite individuals via either a deterministic or a stochastic selection scheme. In the case of single-objective genetic algorithm, onemax and royal road R ₁ functions are used during benchmarking. In contrast, various multi-objective benchmark problems with specific characteristics are utilised in the case of multi-objective genetic algorithm. The results indicate that the use of diversity control with a correct parameter setting helps to prevent premature convergence in single-objective optimisation. Furthermore, the use of diversity control also promotes the emergence of multi-objective solutions that are close to the true Pareto optimal solutions while maintaining a uniform solution distribution along the Pareto front.     

Box-constrained multi-objective optimization: A gradient-like method without “a priori” scalarization

The aim of this paper is the development of an algorithm to find the critical points of a box-constrained multi-objective optimization problem. The proposed algorithm is an interior point method based on suitable directions that play the role of gradient-like directions for the vector objective function. The method does not rely on an “a priori” scalarization and is based on a dynamic system defined by a vector field of descent directions in the considered box. The key tool to define the mentioned vector field is the notion of vector pseudogradient. We prove that the limit points of the solutions of the system satisfy the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) first order necessary condition for the box-constrained multi-objective optimization problem. These results allow us to develop an algorithm to solve box-constrained multi-objective optimization problems. Finally, we consider some test problems where we apply the proposed computational method. The numerical experience shows that the algorithm generates an approximation of the local optimal Pareto front representative of all parts of optimal front.     

Availability allocation and multi-objective optimization for parallel–series systems

Availability allocation is required when the manufacturer is obliged to allocate proper availability to various components in order to design an end product to meet specified requirements. This paper proposes a new multi-objective genetic algorithm, namely simulated annealing based multi-objective genetic algorithm (saMOGA), to resolve the availability allocation and optimization problems of a repairable system, specifically a parallel–series system. Compared with a general multi-objective genetic algorithm, the major feature of the saMOGA is that it can accept a poor solution with a small probability in order to enlarge the searching space and avoid the local optimum. The saMOGA aims to determine the optimal decision variables, i.e. failure rates, repair rates, and the number of components in each subsystem, according to multiple objectives, such as system availability, system cost and system net profit. The proposed saMOGA is compared with three other multi-objective genetic algorithms. Computational results showed that the proposed approach could provide higher solution quality and greater computing efficiency.     

基于混沌量子算法和MAGTD的多目标FJSP求解策略

针对多目标环境下柔性作业车间的调度问题,以最小化最大完工时间和惩罚值为目标,建立调度问题的数学模型,提出了基于混沌理论的量子粒子群算法。针对实际生产交货期不确定的特点,在量子粒子群算法基础上,提出引入混沌机制建立初始群的方法;利用混沌机制的遍历性,提出混沌局部优化策略;为获取最优调度方案提出了引入多指标加权灰靶选择策略。通过典型基准算例和对比测试,验证了所提出的算法获得最满意调度方案的可行性和求解多目标柔性作业车间调度问题的有效性。     

基于种群自适应调整的多目标差分进化算法

为提高已有多目标进化算法在求解复杂多目标优化问题上的收敛性和解集分布性,提出一种基于种群自适应调整的多目标差分进化算法。该算法设计一个种群扩增策略,它在决策空间生成一些新个体帮助搜索更优的非支配解;设计了一个种群收缩策略,它依据对非支配解集的贡献程度淘汰较差的个体以减少计算负荷,并预留一些空间给新的带有种群多样性的扰动个体;引入精英学习策略,防止算法陷入局部收敛。通过典型的多目标优化函数对算法进行测试验证,结果表明所提算法相对于其他算法具有明显的优势,其性能优越,能够在保证良好收敛性的同时,使获得的Pareto最优解集具有更均匀的分布性和更广的覆盖范围,尤其适合于高维复杂多目标优化问题的求解。     

基于模糊决策模型的高速公路环境风险评价

本文构建了非常规突发事件下的高速公路环境风险评价的目标体系,将模糊逻辑与多目标决策、层次分析法相结合,提出一种基于模糊多目标决策模型。它与传统的多目标决策模型相比,将输入参量转化为语言变量后,获得一个集专家知识、系统变量间关系为基础的优势得分排序规则,可对不确定环境下的多目标及其子目标进行决策评价。通过设计一个高速公路路段环境评价的算例,并对其目标及子目标进行敏感性分析,验证这种决策方法在评价高速公路环境风险上的科学性。     

Multi-objective and prioritized berth allocation in container ports

This paper considers a berth allocation problem (BAP) which requires the determination of exact berthing times and positions of incoming ships in a container port. The problem is solved by optimizing the berth schedule so as to minimize concurrently the three objectives of makespan, waiting time, and degree of deviation from a predetermined priority schedule. These objectives represent the interests of both port and ship operators. Unlike most existing approaches in the literature which are single-objective-based, a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) that incorporates the concept of Pareto optimality is proposed for solving the multi-objective BAP. The MOEA is equipped with three primary features which are specifically designed to target the optimization of the three objectives. The features include a local search heuristic, a hybrid solution decoding scheme, and an optimal berth insertion procedure. The effects that each of these features has on the quality of berth schedules are studied.     

Global maximization of UTA functions in multi-objective optimization

The UTAs (UTilité Additives) type methods for constructing nondecreasing additive utility functions were first proposed by Jacquet-Lagrèze and Siskos in 1982 for handling decision problems of multicriteria ranking. In this article, by UTA functions, we mean functions which are constructed by the UTA type methods. Our purpose is to propose an algorithm for globally maximizing UTA functions of a class of linear/convex multiple objective programming problems. The algorithm is established based on a branch and bound scheme, in which the branching procedure is performed by a so-called I-rectangular bisection in the objective (outcome) space, and the bounding procedure by some convex or linear programs. Preliminary computational experiments show that this algorithm can work well for the case where the number of objective functions in the multiple objective optimization problem under consideration is much smaller than the number of variables.     

兼顾效率和成本的ARMA控制图多目标优化设计

ARMA控制图是一种有效的自相关过程质量监控方法,为了能够同时对ARMA控制图监控方案的效率和成本进行优化,本文分别研究了ARMA控制图的平均运行长度和质量成本的计算方法,并由此建立了ARMA控制图的多目标优化设计模型。采用NSGA-Ш智能优化算法,通过一个具体的算例对该模型的计算方法进行了说明,针对不同程度的过程偏移给出了多目标优化设计的非劣解解集。然后通过灵敏度分析的方法研究了模型中的主要设计参数对监控方案的效率和成本的影响程度。最后,通过与其它几种ARMA控制图优化设计方案的比较分析,说明了本文提出的设计方法的优势。     

A multi-objective optimization evolutionary algorithm incorporating preference information based on fuzzy logic

A multi-objective optimization evolutionary algorithm incorporating preference information interactively is proposed. A new nine grade evaluation method is used to quantify the linguistic preferences expressed by the decision maker (DM) so as to reduce his/her cognitive overload. When comparing individuals, the classical Pareto dominance relation is commonly used, but it has difficulty in dealing with problems involving large numbers of objectives in which it gives an unmanageable and large set of Pareto optimal solutions. In order to overcome this limitation, a new outranking relation called “strength superior” which is based on the preference information is constructed via a fuzzy inference system to help the algorithm find a few solutions located in the preferred regions, and the graphical user interface is used to realize the interaction between the DM and the algorithm. The computational complexity of the proposed algorithm is analyzed theoretically, and its ability to handle preference information is validated through simulation. The influence of parameters on the performance of the algorithm is discussed and comparisons to another preference guided multi-objective evolutionary algorithm indicate that the proposed algorithm is effective in solving high dimensional optimization problems.     

An efficient multi-objective PSO algorithm assisted by Kriging metamodel for expensive black-box problems

The huge computational overhead is the main challenge in the application of community based optimization methods, such as multi-objective particle swarm optimization and multi-objective genetic algorithm, to deal with the multi-objective optimization involving costly simulations. This paper proposes a Kriging metamodel assisted multi-objective particle swarm optimization method to solve this kind of expensively black-box multi-objective optimization problems. On the basis of crowding distance based multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm, the new proposed method constructs Kriging metamodel for each expensive objective function adaptively, and then the non-dominated solutions of the metamodels are utilized to guide the update of particle population. To reduce the computational cost, the generalized expected improvements of each particle predicted by metamodels are presented to determine which particles need to perform actual function evaluations. The suggested method is tested on 12 benchmark functions and compared with the original crowding distance based multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II algorithm. The test results show that the application of Kriging metamodel improves the search ability and reduces the number of evaluations. Additionally, the new proposed method is applied to the optimal design of a cycloid gear pump and achieves desirable results.     

求解双层规划的多目标布谷鸟算法

双层规划是一类具有主从递阶结构的优化问题,属于NP-hard范畴。本文利用KKT条件将双层规划问题转化为等价的单层约束规划问题,通过约束处理技术进一步转化为带偏好双目标无约束优化问题,提出多目标布谷鸟算法求解策略。该算法采用Pareto支配和ε-个体比较准则,充分利用种群中优秀不可行解的信息指导搜索过程;设置外部档案集存储迭代过程中的优秀个体并通过高斯扰动改善外部档案集的质量,周期性替换群体中的劣势个体,引导种群不断向可行域或最优解逼近。数值实验及其参数分析验证了算法的有效性。     

An improved NSGA-III algorithm based on elimination operator for many-objective optimization

Due to the low selection pressure of the Pareto-dominance relation and the ineffectivity of diversity maintenance schemes in the environmental selection, the classical Pareto-dominance based multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) fail to handle many-objective optimization problems. The recently presented non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm III (NSGA-III) employs the uniformly distributed reference points to significantly promote population diversity, but the convergence based on the Pareto-dominance relation could still be enhanced. For this purpose, an improved NSGA-III algorithm based on elimination operator (NSGA-III-EO) is proposed. In the proposed algorithm, the elimination operator first identifies the reference point with maximum niche count and then employs the penalty-based boundary intersection distance to rank the individuals associated with it. To this end, the selection scheme is used to remove the worse individuals rather than to select the superior individuals. The proposed NSGA-III-EO is tested on a number of well-known benchmark problems with up to fifteen objectives and shows the competitive performance compared with five state-of-the-art MOEAs. Additionally, it is also tested on constrained problems having a large number of objectives and shows good performance.     

A new orthogonal evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition for multi-objective optimization

The diversity of solutions is very important for multi-objective evolutionary algorithms to deal with multi-objective optimization problems (MOPs). In order to achieve the goal, a new orthogonal evolutionary algorithm based on objective space decomposition (OEA/D) is proposed in this paper. To be specific, the objective space of an MOP is firstly decomposed into a set of sub-regions via a set of direction vectors, and OEA/D maintains the diversity of solutions by making each sub-region have a solution to the maximum extent. Also, the quantization orthogonal crossover (QOX) is used to enhance the search ability of OEA/D. Experimental studies have been conducted to compare this proposed algorithm with classic MOEA/D, NSGAII, NICA and D2MOPSO. Simulation results on six multi-objective benchmark functions show that the proposed algorithm is able to obtain better diversity and more evenly distributed Pareto fronts than other four algorithms.