LAUSR

Abstract In this study, we propose an improved fruit fly optimization algorithm (FOA) based on linear diminishing step and logistic chaos mapping (named DSLC-FOA) for solving benchmark function unconstrained optimization problems and constrained structural engineering design optimization problems. Based on comparisons with genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, FOA, LGMS -FOA, and chaotic FOA methods, we demonstrated that DSLC-FOA performed better at searching for the optimal solutions of four typical benchmark functions. The approximate optimal results were obtained using DSLC-FOA for three structural engineering design optimization problems as examples of applications. The numerical results demonstrated that the proposed DSLC-FOA algorithm is superior to the basic FOA and other metaheuristic or deterministic methods.