Sobol Sequence-based MOSaDE Algorithm for Multi-objective Design of Water Distribution Networks

Abstract

AbstractDesigning the water distribution networks (WDNs) is an enormously challenging task, framed as an optimization problem, and consideration of reliability further adds to the complexity, which may involve substantial computational effort. Several past studies stressed that evolutionary algorithms (EAs) could be efficient tools for WDN design. So, this study presents an effective methodology multi-objective self-adaptive differential evolution (MOSaDE) algorithm using Sobol sequences for random number generation, termed as (S-MOSaDE), for WDN design. The algorithm’s performance is evaluated by applying a few benchmark WDNs, considering cost minimization and mechanical reliability maximization and comparing the results with the NSGA-II algorithm. The results illustrated that the S-MOSaDE algorithm leads to a superior Pareto optimal front than those obtained using NSGA-II concerning a uniformly spaced and wide range of non-dominated solutions and converges quickly compared to the other algorithms. The study concludes that the proposed S-MOSaDE algorithm can be employed fruitfully for solving the performance-based design problem of WDNs.KeywordsMulti-objective designWater distribution networksSobol sequenceDifferential evolutionOptimizationMechanical reliability