In this paper, an improved electro-search algorithm is proposed to solve topology optimization problem of nonlinear single-layer domes. The electro-search algorithm is one of the newly developed metaheuristics inspirited by the movement of electrons around the nucleus of atoms in a molecule. This algorithm exhibits a good performance in solving optimization problems of benchmark functions. However, this algorithm cannot present appropriate performance in tackling discrete structural optimization problems. In the proposed improved algorithm, to reduce the probability of getting stuck in local minima, one electron is assigned to each nucleus and a new equation is defined to determine its orbital’s radius. Moreover, a new scheme is developed to update the position of nuclei in design space. In addition, in order to increase the convergence speed, a memory containing some historically best solutions is added to the algorithm. Parametric and nonparametric statistical tests are applied to analyze the performance of the algorithms. The numerical results are presented in two parts including size optimization of benchmark steel structures and topology optimization problems of single-layer domes. The results demonstrate that the proposed improved algorithm is superior over other well-known metaheuristic algorithms in terms of optimum solution, convergence rate, and overall performance.

提出了一种改进的电搜索算法来解决非线性单层球顶的拓扑优化问题。电搜索算法是一种新发展的元启发式方法之一，它受到电子在分子中原子核周围的运动的启发。该算法在解决基准函数优化问题方面表现出良好的性能。但是，该算法无法解决离散结构优化问题。在提出的改进算法中，为了减少陷入局部极小值的可能性，每个原子核分配了一个电子，并定义了一个新方程来确定其轨道半径。此外，开发了一种新方案来更新原子核在设计空间中的位置。另外，为了提高收敛速度，包含一些历史最佳解决方案的内存将添加到该算法中。使用参数和非参数统计测试来分析算法的性能。数值结果分为两部分，包括基准钢结构的尺寸优化和单层穹顶的拓扑优化问题。结果表明，提出的改进算法在最优解，收敛速度和整体性能上均优于其他著名的元启发式算法。数值结果分为两部分，包括基准钢结构的尺寸优化和单层穹顶的拓扑优化问题。结果表明，提出的改进算法在最优解，收敛速度和整体性能上均优于其他著名的元启发式算法。数值结果分为两部分，包括基准钢结构的尺寸优化和单层穹顶的拓扑优化问题。结果表明，提出的改进算法在最优解，收敛速度和整体性能上均优于其他著名的元启发式算法。