Abstract
Rockfill dams are among the most complex, significant, and costly infrastructure projects of great national importance. A key issue in their design is the construction stage and zone optimization. However, a detailed flow shop construction scheme that considers the opinions of decision makers cannot be obtained using the current rock-fill dam construction stage and zone optimization methods, and the robustness and efficiency of existing construction stage and zone optimization approaches are not sufficient. This research presents a construction stage and zone optimization model based on a data-driven analytical hierarchy process extended by D numbers (D-AHP) and an enhanced whale optimization algorithm (EWOA). The flow shop construction scheme is optimized by presenting an automatic flow shop construction scheme multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) method, which integrates the data-driven D-AHP with an improved construction simulation of a high rockfill dam (CSHRD). The EWOA, which uses Levy flight to improve the robustness and efficiency of the whale optimization algorithm (WOA), is adopted for optimization. This proposed model is implemented to optimize the construction stages and zones while obtaining a preferable flow shop construction scheme. The effectiveness and advantages of the model are proven by an example of a large-scale rockfill dam.
Highlights
Hydropower is an advantageous option for clean energy
The arrangement of time for each stage and the division of zones by height represent the problem of the rockfill dam construction stage and zone optimization, which is critical in planning the construction process of rockfill dams
The improved construction simulation of a high rockfill dam (CSHRD) and the data-driven D-analytical hierarchical process (AHP) are introduced for multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) of the flow shop construction scheme; the enhanced whale optimization algorithm (EWOA) is presented for construction stage and zone optimization
Summary
Hydropower is an advantageous option for clean energy. Rockfill dams have become a popular type of hydropower infrastructure because their raw materials are abundant [1,2]. The construction process of rockfill dams is divided into several stages to ensure an efficient and successful construction, while the dam body is divided into several zones for different functions. The arrangement of time for each stage and the division of zones by height represent the problem of the rockfill dam construction stage and zone optimization, which is critical in planning the construction process of rockfill dams. Traditional design of the construction stages and zones is mainly based on expert experience of similar engineering [4], lacking scientific basis. To address this problem, a construction stage and zone optimization model was proposed in Reference [5].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
