Application of metaheuristic optimization algorithms to evaluate the geometric and kinematic parameters of downbursts

Strong localized downbursts generated in thunderstorms can produce surface winds very dangerous for civil structures and infrastructures. Modelling simulating such severe wind systems is therefore extremely important structural safety design speed evaluation. This paper deals with the downburst field simulation by means of an optimization algorithm that uses a analytical model, previously developed authors, two metaheuristic algorithms, namely Differential Evolution (DE) Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO), kinematic geometrical parameters The problem minimizes relative error between recorded simulated direction time histories. A comparison made performance algorithms ten thunderstorm events measured north-western Italy October 2011 2015. Both provide solutions which are coherent values present literature. TLBO outperforms DE since it has faster convergence rate to optimal solution.