Application of the path-repairing technique and virus optimization algorithm for the dimensional synthesis of four-bar mechanisms

Abstract

This paper considers the synthesis of the four-bar mechanism. It is treated here as an optimization problem, in which an objective function is defined. To solve this problem, a metaheuristic called the virus optimization algorithm is employed. Furthermore, a new path-repairing technique recently published by Sleesongsom and Bureerat is applied instead of the very common technique related to the application of a penalty function. This makes the search by means of the metaheuristic more efficient. Furthermore, the obtained results are very accurate.