Application of Water Cycle Algorithm on Ramshorn Hook Optimization Problem

Abstract

This research presents the problem of optimization of the most critical cross-sectional area of Ramshorn hook, where the geometric parameters of the trapezoidal and T cross-sections were taken as optimization variables. The minimization of the area of the cross-section of the Ramshorn hook was set as the main goal in this research. The stresses at the inner and outer fibers of the hook cross-section were taken according to the DIN standard, and they represented the constraint functions for the optimization model. As a method of optimization, two nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithms were applied for this optimization problem, using MATLAB software: Water Cycle Algorithm (WCA) and its modified version Evaporation Rate based Water Cycle Algorithm (ER-WCA). The optimization results for both types of cross-sections were compared to show which one achieves the best results. The comparison of the applied optimization algorithms was performed, too.