A survey of non-gradient optimization methods in structural engineering

In this paper, we present a review on non-gradient optimization methods with applications to structural engineering. Due to their versatility, there is a large use of heuristic methods of optimization in structural engineering. However, heuristic methods do not guarantee convergence to (locally) optimal solutions. As such, recently, there has been an increasing use of derivative-free optimization techniques that guarantee optimality. For each method, we provide a pseudo code and list of references with structural engineering applications. Strengths and limitations of each technique are discussed. We conclude with some remarks on the value of using methods customized for a desired application. 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.