GENETIC ALGORITHM BASED OPTIMUM DESIGN OF EARTH RETAINING STRUCTURES

Abstract

The goal of the present work is to develop and implement a general program code for automated design of Earth Retaining Structures. The major, thrust is to include as many of the structural parameters as candidate design variables. While existing design methodologies have addressed the automated design issue in the past, the applicability of the methodologies is severely limited due to the inherent limitations of the techniques used. Genetic Algorithm (GA) has shown tremendous potential in tackling engineering design problems such as design of steel frames, where meeting design code requirements in the most cost-effective manner is nontrivial. Over the last few years or so, the use of Genetic Algorithms (GAs) has increased in many areas of engineering. In particular, GAs has been applied to many geotechnical engineering problems and has demonstrated some degree of success. A review of the literature reveals that GAs have been used successfully in pile capacity prediction modelling soil behaviour, earth retaining structures, slope stability, design of tunnels and underground openings, soil compaction, soil swelling and classification of soils. The objective of this dissertation work is to provide a general computer code in FORTRAN in view of some GA applications for the design of Earth Retaining Structures.