Abstract: “In the recent decades metaheuristic search techniques have been widely employed for developing structural design optimization algorithms. Amongst these techniques are genetic algorithms, simulated annealing, evolution strategies, particle swarm optimization, tabu search, ant colony optimization, harmony search, big bang-big crunch, and bat-inspired search. The main concern of the study is to evaluate the performance ofaforementioned nine techniques in discrete sizing optimization of structural systems. The optimization algorithms, which are implemented in an unbiased coding platform, are evaluated and compared in terms of their solution accuracies and reliabilities using a real size structural design instance. Here, the design criteria imposed by AISC-ASD (Allowable Stress Design Code of American Institute of Steel Construction) are considered in the course of optimization. The study provides general guidelines about the efficiency of investigated algorithms in practical structural opt”

Keywords: structural optimization, discrete optimization, optimum sizing, metaheuristics