State-of-the-art review of soft computing applications in underground excavations

Soft computing techniques are becoming even more popular and particularly amenable to model the complex behaviors of most geotechnical engineering systems since they have demonstrated superior predictive capacity,compared to the traditional methods.This paper presents an overview of some soft computing techniques as well as their applications in underground excavations.A case study is adopted to compare the predictive performances of soft computing techniques including eXtreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost),Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines(MARS),Artificial Neural Networks(ANN),and Support Vector Machine(SVM) in estimating the maximum lateral wall deflection induced by braced excavation.This study also discusses the merits and the limitations of some soft computing techniques,compared with the conventional approaches available.     

Optimization techniques for identifying soil parameters in geotechnical engineering: Comparative study and enhancement

A comparative study of optimization techniques for identifying soil parameters in geotechnical engineering was first presented. The identification methodology with its 3 main parts, error function, search strategy, and identification procedure, was introduced and summarized. Then, current optimization methods were reviewed and classified into 3 categories with an introduction to their basic principles and applications in geotechnical engineering. A comparative study on the identification of model parameters from a synthetic pressuremeter and an excavation tests was then performed by using 5 among the mostly common optimization methods, including genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization, simulated annealing, the differential evolution algorithm and the artificial bee colony algorithm. The results demonstrated that the differential evolution had the strongest search ability but the slowest convergence speed. All the selected methods could reach approximate solutions with very small objective errors, but these solutions were different from the preset parameters. To improve the identification performance, an enhanced algorithm was developed by implementing the Nelder‐Mead simplex method in a differential algorithm to accelerate the convergence speed with strong reliable search ability. The performance of the enhanced optimization algorithm was finally highlighted by identifying the Mohr‐Coulomb parameters from the 2 same synthetic cases and from 2 real pressuremeter tests in sand, and ANICREEP parameters from 2 real pressuremeter tests in soft clay.     

海岸岩土工程的物理与数值模拟方法

采用物理模型试验来再现实际现象,验证数值模拟方法的有效性;同时采用数值模拟来弥补离心模型试验的缺陷,揭示模型试验规律,评价实际海岸岩土-结构系统在不同工况下的变形与强度稳定性及其变化.并简要地介绍了针对防波堤土工织物加筋垫层作用机理研究、黄骅港外航道防沙堤工程安全性评价、上海洋山港浅置式大圆筒结构试验段工程安全性评价三个具体项目进行评价的成果,初步展现了物理模型试验与数值模拟方法在海岸岩土工程的机理研究、方案论证、结构与施工优化、结构安全性评价等方面所能发挥的重要作用和广阔的应用前景.     

Numerical simulation of air–soil two-phase flow based on turbulence modeling

Soil flow and induced air blasts are of great harm to humanity, and historically they have caused a lot of damage to infrastructure. However, these phenomena cannot be described by traditional analog modeling methods that limit their use in disaster prevention efforts. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is an applied technique commonly used in a range of fields including the chemical industry, and aircraft and automobile manufacturing, but little is reported on the use of this method to simulate flowing soil in geotechnical engineering applications. The CFD method can effectively make up for the deficiency of normal calculation methods in the analysis of soil flow and air blasts. This paper uses the FLUENT (version 6.3) CFD calculation software to simulate the processes of soil flow and induced air blast changes during soil flow with an Eulerian air–soil two-phase model included in a standard k-ε turbulence model. Velocity vectors of air blasts at different times during soil flow are obtained, and the characteristics of turbulent flow can be found based on the velocity vectors. The numerical simulation techniques adopted in this paper captured precise configurations of soil flow. The results show that the CFD method is especially suitable for simulating the process of soil flow; hazard assessments can be implemented, and the performance of structures involved with disaster prevention can be improved based on the numerical simulation of changing air blasts.     

Artificial intelligence in seismology:Advent,performance and future trends

Realistically predicting earthquake is critical for seismic risk assessment,prevention and safe design of major structures.Due to the complex nature of seismic events,it is challengeable to efficiently identify the earthquake response and extract indicative features from the continuously detected seismic data.These challenges severely impact the performance of traditional seismic prediction models and obstacle the development of seismology in general.Taking their advantages in data analysis,artificial intelligence(AI) techniques have been utilized as powerful statistical tools to tackle these issues.This typically involves processing massive detected data with severe noise to enhance the seismic performance of structures.From extracting meaningful sensing data to unveiling seismic events that are below the detection level,AI assists in identifying unknown features to more accurately predicting the earthquake activities.In this focus paper,we provide an overview of the recent AI studies in seismology and evaluate the performance of the major AI techniques including machine learning and deep learning in seismic data analysis.Furthermore,we envision the future direction of the AI methods in earthquake engineering which will involve deep learning-enhanced seismology in an internet-of-things(IoT) platform.     

Some applications of Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) in geotechnical engineering

This paper presents a review of the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) in current use for geotechnical engineering-based studies, as well as some applications employed in resonant column testing, triaxial testing, and liquefaction triggering. Over the last few years, ANFIS has been used in many geotechnical engineering problems. A review of published literature reveals that ANFIS has been used successfully in footing response prediction, modeling of the friction angle of soils, tunnel stability analysis, estimating current-induced scour depth around pile groups, prediction of unconfined compressive strength, swelling potential of soils and permeability estimation. Some works have been selected to be described, as the others are acknowledged. The paper also presents ANFIS based models for coarse rotund sand–mica mixtures tested in triaxial and resonant column testing apparatuses and a modeling for liquefaction triggering.     

Use of evolutionary computing for modelling some complex problems in geotechnical engineering

In this paper, the feasibility of using evolutionary computing for solving some complex problems in geotechnical engineering is investigated. The paper presents a relatively new technique, i.e. evolutionary polynomial regression (EPR), for modelling three practical applications in geotechnical engineering including the settlement of shallow foundations on cohesionless soils, pullout capacity of small ground anchors and ultimate bearing capacity of pile foundations. The prediction results from the proposed EPR models are compared with those obtained from artificial neural network (ANN) models previously developed by the author, as well as some of the most commonly available methods. The results indicate that the proposed EPR models agree well with (or better than) the ANN models and significantly outperform the other existing methods. The advantage of EPR technique over ANNs is that EPR generates transparent and well-structured models in the form of simple and easy-to-use hand calculation formulae that can be readily used by practising engineers.     

Structural optimization in geotechnical engineering: basics and application

Structural optimization methods are used for a wide range of engineering problems. In geotechnical engineering however, only limited experience exists with these methods. The difficulties in applying such methods to geotechnical problems are discussed in this paper, and the adaption of the commonly known SIMP-method to geotechnical problems is introduced for a special case. An application example is used to present the potential of topology optimization methods, and the application to geotechnical engineering is evaluated.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987115000821

Learning incorporates a broad range of complex procedures. Machine learning(ML) is a subdivision of artificial intelligence based on the biological learning process. The ML approach deals with the design of algorithms to learn from machine readable data. ML covers main domains such as data mining, difficultto-program applications, and software applications. It is a collection of a variety of algorithms(e.g. neural networks, support vector machines, self-organizing map, decision trees, random forests, case-based reasoning, genetic programming, etc.) that can provide multivariate, nonlinear, nonparametric regression or classification. The modeling capabilities of the ML-based methods have resulted in their extensive applications in science and engineering. Herein, the role of ML as an effective approach for solving problems in geosciences and remote sensing will be highlighted. The unique features of some of the ML techniques will be outlined with a specific attention to genetic programming paradigm. Furthermore,nonparametric regression and classification illustrative examples are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of ML for tackling the geosciences and remote sensing problems.     

再论岩土工程有限元方法的应用问题

岩土工程数值分析方法对于研究复杂的岩土介质与多变的施工措施是一种得力的方法,比传统的解析方法、室内试验方法、模拟试验方法、现场试验方法等具有无可替代的优越性。按岩土工程数值方法的历史发展、作用及发展方向,将其分为4个层次：作为一种高级计算器,直接为某个具体岩土工程的设计服务,对该岩土工程在各种极端设计工况下进行安全性、稳定性的计算分析;作为一种强大的、无与伦比的模拟分析器,对复杂工况条件下复杂岩土工程的各种不利因素的相互作用、相互影响、耦合效应等进行模拟分析;作为一种无成本、可重复的多功能试验机,探索具体岩土工程的稳定机制或某工程措施的加固机制;作为岩土工程数值方法的终极目标,对数值分析方法进行二次开发——研发智能化、快速化、简便化的新型数值分析工具。对这4个层次进行了讨论,并对每个层次进行举例说明。     

Slake durability study of shaly rock and its predictions

More than 35% of the earths crust is comprised of clay-bearing rocks, characterized by a wide variation in engineering properties and their resistance to short term weathering by wetting and drying phenomenon. The resistance to short-term weathering can be determined by slake durability index test. There are various methods to determine the slake durability indices of weak rock. The effect of acidity of water (slaking fluid) on slake durability index of shale in the laboratory is investigated. These methods are cumbersome and time consuming but they can provide valuable information on lithology, durability and weather ability of rock. Fuzzy set theory, Fuzzy logic and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) techniques seem very well suited for typical complex geotechnical problems. In conjunction with statistics and conventional mathematical methods, a hybrid method can be developed that may prove a step forward in modeling geotechnical problems. During this investigation a model was developed and compared with two other models i.e., Neuro-fuzzy systems (combination of fuzzy and artificial neural network systems) and artificial neural network system, for the prediction of slake durability index of shaly rock to evaluate the performance of its prediction capability.     

Frictional contact algorithms in SPH for the simulation of soil–structure interaction

Simulation of frictional contact between soils and rigid or deformable structure in the framework of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is presented in this study. Two algorithms are implemented into the SPH code to describe contact behavior, where the contact forces are calculated using the law of conservation of momentum based on ideal plastic collision or using the criteria of partial penetrating. In both algorithms, the problem of boundary deficiency inherited from SPH is properly handled so that the particles located at contact boundary can have precise acceleration, which is critical for contact detection. And the movement and rotation of the rigid structure are taken into account so that it is easy to simulate the process of pile driving or movement of a retaining wall in geotechnical engineering analysis. Furthermore, the capability of modeling deformability of a structure during frictional contact simulations broadens the fields of SPH application. In contrast to previous work dealing with contact in SPH, which usually use particle‐to‐particle contact or ignoring sliding between particles and solid structure, the method proposed here is more efficient and accurate, and it is suitable to simulate interaction between soft materials and rigid or deformable structures, which are very common in geotechnical engineering. A number of numerical tests are carried out to verify the accuracy and stability of the proposed algorithms, and their results are compared with analytical solutions or results from finite element method analysis. Good agreement obtained from these comparisons suggests that the proposed algorithms are robust and can be applied to extend the capability of SPH in solving geotechnical problems. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Volumetric soil profile modeling using geo-statistics and GIS: case study Kuwait Sabkha

Geo-statistics techniques showed high applicability in fields related to geotechnical engineering like mining and petroleum engineering. Hence, this paper introduces direct application of Geo-statistics in Geotechnical engineering which is 3D soil profiling. It introduces Geo-statistics as a concept and shows the practical implementation of these techniques on modeling soil profile using CPT sample data through the integration between GIS and a specialized 3D Geo-statistical modeling software called Sgems (Stanford Geo-statistical modeling software). Using 30 CPT logs in Sabkha soil from the data of Soil Works for a costal Housing Project located approximately 25 km west of Kuwait city, and a semi-automated workflow, the 3D model was produced on Sgems and converted to GIS. The ESRI-ArcGIS software was used in querying 3D soil profile and in producing 3D section in-spite of its limitation in 3D Voxel representation.     

砂土的流体动力学方程与本构模型的比较

目前砂土材料连续力学方程建模有两种途径,一种是源自于论证Navier-Stokes方程时所用的方法,称为流体动力学方法,主要针对普通固体、普通流体、超流、液晶、高聚物、颗粒物质等材料,它的基本做法是先给出守恒变量（如能量、动量、熵等）和对称破缺变量（如弹性应变、量子相位等）的一般运动方程,再用与具体材料有关的热力学函数和迁移系数来封闭它们;另一种方法是本构模型法,针对有塑性固体、非牛顿流体、砂土材料等材料,该做法特点是直接构建应力、应变、应力率、应变率、速度、密度、温度等变量之间的函数关系,并以此来封闭连续和牛顿方程。近年来采用这两种方法建立的砂土方程在文献上都有报道,因此,有必要对两者的特色、科学基础、适用范围,包括概念上的和具体方程等,进行比较,作为颗粒物理与土力学之间跨学科交流的一种尝试和沟通。通过比较得出,两种建模途径对表征砂土状态的完备变量集、屈服面、与塑性有关的耗散等使用了很不一样的思路和方程。     

Molecular dynamics modeling of a partially saturated clay-water system at finite temperature

The mechanical and hydraulic properties of unsaturated clay under nonisothermal conditions have practical implications in geotechnical engineering applications such as geothermal energy harvest, landfill cover design, and nuclear waste disposal facilities. The water menisci among clay particles impact the mechanical and hydraulic properties of unsaturated clay. Molecular dynamics (MD) modeling has been proven to be an effective method in investigating clay structures and their hydromechanical behavior at the atomic scale. In this study, we examine the impact of temperature increase on the capillary force and capillary pressure of the partially saturated clay-water system through high-performance computing. The water meniscus formed between two parallel clay particles is studied via a full-scale MD modeling at different elevated temperatures. The numerical results have shown that the temperature increase impacts the capillary force, capillary pressure, and contact angle at the atomic scale. The capillary force on the clay particle obtained from MD simulations is also compared with the results from the macroscopic theory. The full-scale MD simulation of the partially saturated clay-water system can not only provide a fundamental understanding of the impact of temperature on the interface physics of such system at the atomic scale, but also has practical implication in formulating physics-based multiscale models for unsaturated soils by providing interface physical properties of such materials directly through high-performance computing.     

Numerical and analytical investigation of compressional wave propagation in saturated soils

In geotechnical earthquake engineering, wave propagation plays a fundamental role in engineering applications related to the dynamic response of geotechnical structures and to site response analysis. However, current engineering practice is primarily concentrated on the investigation of shear wave propagation and the corresponding site response only to the horizontal components of the ground motion. Due to the repeated recent observations of strong vertical ground motions and compressional damage of engineering structures, there is an increasing need to carry out a comprehensive investigation of vertical site response and the associated compressional wave propagation, particularly when performing the seismic design for critical structures (e.g. nuclear power plants and high dams). Therefore, in this paper, the compressional wave propagation mechanism in saturated soils is investigated by employing hydro-mechanically (HM) coupled analytical and numerical methods. A HM analytical solution for compressional wave propagation is first studied based on Biot’s theory, which shows the existence of two types of compressional waves (fast and slow waves) and indicates that their characteristics (i.e. wave dispersion and attenuation) are highly dependent on some key geotechnical and seismic parameters (i.e. the permeability, soil stiffness and loading frequency). The subsequent HM Finite Element (FE) study reproduces the duality of compressional waves and identifies the dominant permeability ranges for the existence of the two waves. In particular the existence of the slow compression wave is observed for a range of permeability and loading frequency that is relevant for geotechnical earthquake engineering applications. In order to account for the effects of soil permeability on compressional dynamic soil behaviour and soil properties (i.e. P-wave velocities and damping ratios), the coupled consolidation analysis is therefore recommended as the only tool capable of accurately simulating the dynamic response of geotechnical structures to vertical ground motion at intermediate transient states between undrained and drained conditions.     

Applications of Particle Swarm Optimization in Geotechnical Engineering: A Comprehensive Review

Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is an evolutionary computation approach to solve nonlinear global optimization problems. The PSO idea was made based on simulation of a simplified social system, the graceful but unpredictable choreography of birds flock. This system is initialized with a population of random solutions that are updated during iterations. Over the last few years, PSO has been extensively applied in various geotechnical engineering aspects such as slope stability analysis, pile and foundation engineering, rock and soil mechanics, and tunneling and underground space design. A review on the literature shows that PSO has utilized more widely in geotechnical engineering compared with other civil engineering disciplines. This is due to comprehensive uncertainty and complexity of problems in geotechnical engineering which can be solved by using the PSO abilities in solving the complex and multi-dimensional problems. This paper provides a comprehensive review on the applicability, advantages and limitation of PSO in different disciplines of geotechnical engineering to provide an insight to an alternative and superior optimization method compared with the conventional optimization techniques for geotechnical engineers.     

基坑开挖中的环境岩土工程问题研究

基坑工程是一涉及岩土工程、结构工程和环境工程等众多学科领域的综合工程,基坑工程往往是在城市中心地带建筑密集区进行,基坑工程的建设,不仅受周围环境的限制,也对周围环境会造成不同程度的影响,因此,研究基坑开挖中环境岩土工程地质问题有重要意义.本文分析了基坑开挖中环境岩土工程地质现象的主要类型,探讨了这些类型之间的有机联系和环境岩土工程地质现象变异的危害,并提出了基坑开挖中预防环境岩土工程地质现象发生的途径与措施.     

Use of lateritic fine-grained soils in road pavement base courses

Summary Lateritic fine-grained soils are, in large areas of Brazil and other tropical countries, the most frequent local materials found along road routes. However the use of these soils in pavements has been difficult, because they do not conform to the traditional specifications for base courses. This paper presents successful uses of many of these soils in pavement base courses, particularly sandy soils, following specially developed geotechnical test methods and construction procedures, thus sensibly reducing the cost of pavements, mainly for low to medium traffic levels.     

Degree of weathering in the identification of laterite materials for engineering purposes — a review

Laterite materials include a large succession of reddish, tropically weathered, decomposition products starting with fresh rock and ending with sesquioxide-rich pedogenic rock (cuirasse). Identification of the various grades of such materials for engineering purposes is a problem which repeatedly faces the engineer engaged in the design and construction of structures on or with laterite materials.The author has attempted to assemble available information useful for the identification and evaluation of all grades of laterite materials for engineering purposes. In the first part he summarises information on the significant genetic characteristics which appear to underlie the deviation of engineering behaviour of laterite materials from the expected properties based upon conventional soil mechanics as developed for temperate-zone soils.The second part summarises available information on the identification of significant geotechnical properties of various grades and genetic groups of laterite materials for engineering purposes.The engineering behaviour of laterite materials forms the substance of the third part of the paper.A literature study has revealed that the geotechnical characteristics and engineering behaviour of laterite materials depend mainly on the genesis and degree of weathering (i.e., decomposition, laterisation, dessication and/or hardening). Other significant genetic characteristics include morphological characteristics as well as the type and content of secondary minerals.Progress in the field of identification and evaluation of laterite materials for construction appears to depend on the simultaneous consideration of all the major factors which affect the behaviour of rocks and their derived soils (i.e., rock type, weathering condition, degree of weathering, type of derived materials as well as their chemical and mineralogical composition).Such an approach is desirable to increase the accuracy of predictions and assessments of the engineering behaviour of most laterite materials.