Composite laminate design optimization by genetic algorithm with generalized elitist selection

Genetic algorithms with elitist selection based on cloning a best single individual (SI) from one generation to the next are popular, but generalized elitist selection (GES) procedures have been proposed and tried in the past. The present paper explores several generalized elitist procedures for the design of composite laminates. It is shown that GES procedures are superior to an SI procedure for two types of problems. The first type involves many global optima, and the GES procedure can find several global optima more efficiently than the SI procedure. This may give a designer more design freedom. The second type of problem involves an isolated optimum surrounded by many designs with performance that is very close to optimal. It is shown that GES procedures can find the optimum and near optimal designs much more easily and reliably than the SI procedure.