Harmony Search Algorithm: Strengths and Weaknesses

Harmony Search Algorithm: Strengths and Weaknesses

For better understanding the metaheuristic algorithms, a detailed analysis of their search mechanism will be very important. This study concentrates on the search mechanism of a powerful metaheuristic algorithm, namely, Harmony Search (HS) algorithm. To optimize different optimization problems, the HS algorithm uses three rules, namely, Random Selecting (RS), Harmony Memory Considering (HMC), and Pitch Adjusting (PA) rules, which are inspired from the process that the musicians use to improvise a perfect state of harmony.