Revisiting the performance of evolutionary algorithms

Abstract

The advent of numerical computational approaches permits evolutionary algorithms (EAs) to solve complex, real-world engineering problems. The additional modification or hybridization of such EAs in academic research and application demonstrates improved performance for domain-specific challenges. However, developing a new algorithm or comparison and selection of existing EAs for challenges in the field of optimization is relatively unexplored. The performance of different well-established algorithms is, therefore, investigated in this work. The selection of algorithms using nonparametric tests encompasses different categories to include- Genetic Algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization, Harmony Search Algorithm, Cuckoo Search Algorithm, Bat Algorithm, Firefly algorithm, Differential Evolution, and Artificial Bee Colony. These algorithms are applied to solve test functions, including unconstrained, constrained, industry specific problems, CEC 2011 real world optimization problems and selected CEC 2013 benchmark test functions. The three distinct performance metrics, namely, efficiency, reliability, and quality of solution derived using the quantitative attributes are provided to evaluate the performance of the employed EAs. The categorical assignment of performance attributes helps to compare different algorithms for a specific optimization problem while the performance metrics are useful to provide the common platform for new or hybrid EA development.