Seyed Alireza Moezi - Y۰ung Researchers and Elite Club, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
Ehsan Zakeri - Y۰ung Researchers and Elite Club, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran.
Yousef Bazargan-Lari - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran.
Amin Zare - Y۰ung Researchers and Elite Club, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

In this paper, a connecting rod is modeled and analyzed by finite element method. By using of genetic algorithm (GA) and cuckoo optimization algorithm (COA), the material properties and some geometrical specifications are optimized. Cost function is a combination of weight and stress. As a result, the ratios of weight and stress over their initial values in 2-D and 3-D analyses show a reduction. Although both of the algorithms are efficient, the results of COA are better than GA; because of smaller number of iterations and initial population, which result in increasing the rate of convergence and accuracy of answers.