DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE FOR GENETIC ALGORITHMS

This paper describes the encoding of domain knowledge for use by a gen etic algorithm. We use the domain of system configuration design probl ems; specifically, the structural design and optimization of trusses t o ground our discussion and results. The approach applies evolutionary principles to the optimally directed configuration design of complex structures and incorporates engineering domain knowledge into a geneti c algorithm to synthesize the topology, geometry, and component proper ties of the structure. preliminary results indicate that genetic algor ithms with domain knowledge can generate feasible and useful designs.