A differential evolution algorithm with a variable neighborhood search for constrained function optimization

Abstract

In this paper a differential evolution algorithm based on a variable neighborhood search algorithm (DE_VNS) is proposed in order to solve the constrained real-parameter optimization problems. The performance of DE algorithm depends on the mutation strategies crossover operators and control parameters. As a result a DE_VNS algorithm that can employ multiple mutation operators in its VNS loops is proposed in order to further enhance the solution quality. We also present an idea of injecting some good dimensional values to the trial individual through the injection procedure. In addition we also present a diversification procedure that is based on the inversion of the target individuals and injection of some good dimensional values from promising areas in the population by tournament selection. The computational results show that the simple DE_VNS algorithm was very competitive to some of the best performing algorithms from the literature. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.