Boundary-approaching particle swarm optimization in reliability-based design optimization

The purpose of reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) is to find a balanced design that is not only economical but also reliable in the presence of uncertainty. Practical applications of RBDO involve discrete design variables, which are selected from commercially available lists, and non-smooth (non-differentiable) performance functions. The proposed PSO algorithm extends standard PSO to include a new feature: boundary-approaching. The proposed boundary-approaching PSO algorithm (B-PSO) is used to find the optimal design of a ten-bar truss, whose component sizes are selected from commercial standards, while reliability constraints are imposed by the current design code. In multiple trials, the B-PSO algorithm is able to deliver competitive solutions with consistency.