• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.288-298
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• 2012

Lot sizing and shipment scheduling are two interrelated decisions made by a manufacturing plant and a third-party logistics distribution center. This paper analyzes a dynamic inbound ordering problem and shipment problem with a freight container cost, in which the order size of multiple products and single container type are simultaneously considered. In the problem, each ordered product placed in a period is immediately shipped by some freight containers in the period, and the total freight cost is proportional to the number of containers employed. It is assumed that the load size of each product is equal and backlogging is not allowed. The objective of this study is to simultaneously determine the lot-sizes and the shipment schedule that minimize the total costs, which consist of production cost, inventory holding cost, and freight cost. Because the problem is NP-hard, we propose three meta-heuristic algorithms: a simulated annealing algorithm, a genetic algorithm, and a new population-based evolutionary meta-heuristic called self-evolution algorithm. The performance of the meta-heuristic algorithms is compared with a local search heuristic proposed by the previous paper in terms of the average deviation from the optimal solution in small size problems and the average deviation from the best one among the replications of the meta-heuristic algorithms in large size problems.

• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.114-122
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• 2012

This paper considers a non-identical parallel machine scheduling problem with sequence and machine dependent setup times. The objective of this problem is to determine the allocation of jobs and the scheduling of each machine to minimize makespan. A mathematical model for optimal solution is derived. An in-depth analysis of the model shows that it is very complicated and difficult to obtain optimal solutions as the problem size becomes large. Therefore, two meta-heuristics, genetic algorithm (GA) and a new population-based evolutionary meta-heuristic called self-evolution algorithm (SEA), are proposed. The performances of the meta-heuristic algorithms are evaluated through compare with optimal solutions using randomly generated several examples.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.405-426
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• 2014

In this paper, a new meta-heuristic algorithm named Ranked Particles Optimization (RPO), is presented. This algorithm is not inspired from natural or physical phenomena. However, it is based on numerous researches in the field of meta-heuristic optimization algorithms. In this algorithm, like other meta-heuristic algorithms, optimization process starts with by producing a population of random solutions, Particles, located in the feasible search space. In the next step, cost functions corresponding to all random particles are evaluated and some of those having minimum cost functions are stored. These particles are ranked and their weighted average is calculated and named Ranked Center. New solutions are produced by moving each particle along its previous motion, the ranked center, and the best particle found thus far. The robustness of this algorithm is verified by solving some mathematical and structural optimization problems. Simplicity of implementation and reaching to desired solution are two main characteristics of this algorithm.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.707-719
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• 2018

In this article, a new method is introduced to improve the local search capability of meta-heuristic algorithms using the projection of the path on the border of constraints. In a mathematical point of view, the Gradient Projection Method is applied through a new approach, while the imposed limitations are removed. Accordingly, the gradient vector is replaced with a new meta-heuristic based vector. Besides, the active constraint identification algorithm, and the projection method are changed into less complex approaches. As a result, if a constraint is violated by an agent, a new path will be suggested to correct the direction of the agent's movement. The presented procedure includes three main steps: (1) the identification of the active constraint, (2) the neighboring point determination, and (3) the new direction and step length. Moreover, this method can be applied to some meta-heuristic algorithms. It increases the chance of convergence in the final phase of the search process, especially when the number of the violations of the constraints increases. The method is applied jointly with the authors' newly developed meta-heuristic algorithm, entitled Star Graph. The capability of the resulted hybrid method is examined using the optimal design of truss and frame structures. Eventually, the comparison of the results with other meta-heuristics of the literature shows that the hybrid method is successful in the global as well as local search.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartB
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• v.18B no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2011

There are a lot of people trying to solve the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) by using the Meta Heuristic Algorithms. TSP is an NP-Hard problem, and is used in testing search algorithms and optimization algorithms. Also TSP is one of the models of social problems. Many methods are proposed like Hybrid methods and Custom-built methods in Meta Heuristic. In this paper, we propose the S-MINE Algorithm to use the MINE Algorithm introduced in 2009 on the TSP.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.535-554
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• 2015

Dolphin echolocation (DE) optimization algorithm is a recently developed meta-heuristic in which echolocation behavior of Dolphins is utilized for seeking a design space. The computational performance of meta-heuristic algorithms is highly dependent to its internal parameters. But the computational time of adjusting these parameters is usually extensive. The DE is an efficient optimization algorithm as it includes few internal parameters compared with other meta-heuristics. In the present paper a modified Dolphin echolocation (MDE) algorithm is proposed for optimization of steel frame structures. In the MDE the step locations are determined using one-dimensional chaotic maps and this improves the convergence behavior of the algorithm. The effectiveness of the proposed MDE algorithm is illustrated in three benchmark steel frame optimization test examples. Results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed MDE algorithm in finding better solutions compared to standard DE and other existing algorithms.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.297-319
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• 2022

Due to their natural and social revelation, also their ease and flexibility, human collective behavior and teamwork sports are inspired to introduce optimization algorithms to solve various engineering and scientific problems. Nowadays, meta-heuristic algorithms are becoming some striking methods for solving complex real-world problems. In that respect in the present study, the authors propose a novel meta-innovative algorithm based on soccer teamwork sport, suitable for optimization problems. The method may be referred to as the Soccer League Optimization-based Championship Algorithm, inspired by the Soccer league. This method consists of two main steps, including: 1. Qualifying competitions and 2. Main competitions. To evaluate the robustness of the proposed method, six different benchmark mathematical functions, and two engineering design problem was performed for optimization to assess its efficiency in achieving optimal solutions to various problems. The results show that the proposed algorithm may well explore better performance than some well-known algorithms in various aspects such as consistency through runs and a fast and steep convergence in all problems towards the global optimal fitness value.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.13-19
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• 2013

Purpose - This study aims to predict the audit reports of listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange by using meta-heuristic algorithms. Research design, data, methodology - This applied research aims to predict auditors reports' using meta-heuristic methods (i.e., neural networks, the ANFIS, and a genetic algorithm). The sample includes all firms listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. The research covers the seven years between 2005 and 2011. Results - The results show that the ANFIS model using fuzzy clustering and a least-squares back propagation algorithm has the best performance among the tested models, with an error rate of 4% for incorrect predictions and 96% for correct predictions. Conclusion - A decision tree was used with ten independent variables and one dependent variable the less important variables were removed, leaving only those variables with the greatest effect on auditor opinion (i.e., net-profit-to-sales ratio, current ratio, quick ratio, inventory turnover, collection period, and debt coverage ratio).

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.197-210
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• 2017

This paper focuses on the regularization of structural configurations by employing meta-heuristic optimization algorithms such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Biogeography-Based Optimization (BBO). The regularization of structural configuration means obtaining a structure whose members have equal or almost equal lengths, or whose member's lengths are based on a specific pattern; which in this case, by changing the length of these elements and reducing the number of different profiles of needed members, the construction of the considered structure can be made easier. In this article, two different objective functions have been used to minimize the difference between member lengths with a specific pattern. It is found that by using a small number of iterations in these optimization methods, a structure made of equal-length members can be obtained.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.1093-1117
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• 2016

Global sensitivity analysis (GSA) has been widely used to investigate the sensitivity of the model output with respect to its input parameters. In this paper a new single-solution search optimization algorithm is developed based on the GSA, and applied to the size optimization of truss structures. In this method the search space of the optimization is determined using the sensitivity indicator of variables. Unlike the common meta-heuristic algorithms, where all the variables are simultaneously changed in the optimization process, in this approach the sensitive variables of solution are iteratively changed more rapidly than the less sensitive ones in the search space. Comparisons of the present results with those of some previous population-based meta-heuristic algorithms demonstrate its capability, especially for decreasing the number of fitness functions evaluations, in solving the presented benchmark problems.