Abstract

 DETC99/DAC-8586

 

A Fuzzy Adaptive Simplex Search Optimization Algorithm

 

Mohamed B. Trabia

Associate Professor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Las Vegas, NV 89154-4027

Telephone: (702) 895-0957

E-mail: mbt@me.unlv.edu

 

Xiao Bin Lu

Graduate Student

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Department of Mathematical Sciences

 

 

Optimization algorithms usually use fixed parameters that are empirically chosen to reach the minimum for various objective functions. This paper shows how to incorporate fuzzy logic in optimization algorithms to make the search adaptive to various objective functions. This idea is applied to produce a new algorithm for minimization of a function of n variables using an adaptive form of the simplex method. The search starts by generating a simplex with n+1 vertices. The algorithm replaces the point with the highest function value by a new point. This process comprises reflecting the point with the highest function value in addition to expanding or contracting the simplex using fuzzy logic controllers whose inputs incorporate the relative weights of the function values at the simplex points. The efficiency of the algorithm is studied using a set of standard minimization test problems. This algorithm generally results in a faster convergence toward the minimum. The algorithm is also applied successfully to two engineering design problems.

 

Keywords: Optimization Algorithms, Nonlinear Programming, Simplex, Fuzzy Logic