A two-stage particle swarm optimization algorithm is proposed
in this study for finding multiple optimal truss structures. BPSO (binary
particle swarm optimization) is first employed to solve the discrete
topology optimization of truss structures while ARPSO
(attractive and repulsive particle swarm optimization) [19] is subsequently
implemented to find the associated optimal continuous size
and shape variables. Particle swarm optimization [20,21] is a population-
based optimization technique emulates the social behavior of
animals such as insects swarming, fish schooling, and birds flocking
where these swarms search for food in a collaborative manner. It is a
kind of evolutionary computation technique based on swarm intelligence.
PSO involves a swarm of particles that represent the potential