This text focuses on simple and easy-to-use design strategies for solving complex engineering problems that arise in several fields of engineering design, namely non-convex optimization problems. 

The main optimization tool used in this book to tackle the problem of nonconvexity is the Heuristic Kalman Algorithm (HKA). The main characteristic of HKA is the use of a stochastic search mechanism to solve a given optimization problem. From a computational point of view, the use of a stochastic search procedure appears essential for dealing with non-convex...