Enhancing sparrow search algorithm with hybrid multi-strategy and its engineering applications

Abstract

An enhancing sparrow optimization algorithm with hybrid multi-strategy (EGLTA-SSA) is proposed, to improve the defects of the sparrow search algorithm (SSA), which is easy to fall into local optimum. Firstly, the elite backward learning strategy is introduced to initialize the sparrow population, to generate high-quality initial solutions. Secondly, the leader position is updated by fusing multi-strategy mechanisms. On one hand, the high distributivity of arithmetic optimization algorithm operators are used to deflate the target position, and enhance the ability of SSA to jump out of the local optimum. On the other hand, the leader position is perturbed by adopting the golden levy flight method and the t-distribution perturbation strategy to improve the shortcoming of SSA in the late iteration when the population diversity decreases. Further, a probability factor is added for random selection to achieve more effective communication among leaders. Finally, to verify the effectiveness of EGLTA-SSA, CEC2005 and CEC2019 functions are tested and compared with state-of-the-art algorithms, and the experimental results show that EGLTA-SSA has a better performance in terms of convergence rate and stability. EGLTA-SSA is also successfully applied to three practical engineering problems, and the results demonstrate the superior performance of EGLTA-SSA in solving project optimization problems.