New Applications of a Supervised Computational Intelligence (CI) Approach: Case Study in Civil Engineering

In this study, artificial neural network (ANN) techniques are used in an attempt to predict the nonlinear hyperbolic soil stress–strain relationship parameters (k and Rf). Two ANN models are developed and trained to achieve the planned target, in an attempt at making the experimental test (unconsolidated undrained triaxial test) unnecessary. The first is logarithm of modulus number (log k), and the second is failure ratio (Rf). A database of laboratory measurements comprises a total of (83) case records for modulus number (k) and failure ratio (Rf). Four parameters are considered to have the most significant impact on the nonlinear soil stress–strain relationship parameters, which are used as an independent input variables (IIVs) to the developed the proposed ANNs models. These comprise of: Plasticity index (PI), Dry unit weight (γdry), Water content (ωo), and Confining stress (σ3), the output models are respectively, (log k), and (Rf). Multilayer perceptron trainings using back-propagation algorithm are used in this work. The effect of a number of issues in relation to ANN construction such as ANN geometry and internal parameters on the performance of ANN models is investigated. Information on the relative importance of the factors affecting the (log k), and (Rf) is presented, and practical equations for their prediction are proposed.