An effective hybrid algorithm for the problem of packing circles into a larger containing circle

Simulated annealing is a powerful stochastic search method, but it still has the disadvantage of blind search. Tabu search (TS) which can prevent cycling and enhance diversi/cation, is an adaptive strategy based on tabu list. By reasonably combining simulated annealing with TS, an e#ective hybrid algorithm for the problem of packing circles into a larger containing circle is presented. Based on a special neighborhood and tabu strategy, some benchmark problem instances can be well solved by the presented hybrid algorithm, and the computational results can compete with the best literature results. ? 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.