Optimal Design of Cantilever Soldier Pile Retaining Walls Embedded in Frictional Soils with Harmony Search Algorithm

Gebrail Bekdaş,Zong Woo Geem,Zülal Akbay Arama,Aylin Ece Kayabekir

doi:10.3390/app10093232

Gebrail Bekdaş, Zong Woo Geem + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app10093232

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Abstract

In this paper, the design of cantilever soldier pile retaining walls embedded in frictional soils is investigated within the insight of an optimization algorithm to acquire cost and dimension equilibrium by ensuring both geotechnical and structural requirements simultaneously. Multivariate parametric analyses with different fictionalized cases are performed to evaluate the effects of design variants and to compare the effectiveness of the preference of optimization solutions rather than detailed advanced modeling software. The harmony search algorithm is used to conduct parametrical analyses to take into consideration the effects of the change of excavation depth, shear strength angle, and unit weight of soil, external loading condition, and coefficient of soil reaction. The embedment depth and diameter of the soldier pile are searched as design dimensions, and the total cost of a cantilever soldier pile wall is calculated as an objective function. The design dimension results of the parametric optimization analysis are used to perform finite element analysis with a well-known commercial geotechnical analysis software. The results of optimization and finite element solutions are compared with the use of maximum bending moment, factor of safety, and pivot point location values. As the consequence of the study, the influence rates of design variants are procured, and the effectiveness of the usage of optimization algorithms for both cost and dimensional equilibrium is presented.

Highlights

Achievement of the stability of an excavation is the main design objective in order to avoid failure.In such a case, soldier piles are frequently used to support structures in geotechnical engineering applications that are constructed to resist lateral earth pressures caused by vertical excavation works or to restrain the movement of inclined ground
42,000 parametrical case analyses were conducted to investigate the appropriateness of the use of the harmony search algorithm (HS) algorithm for the design of the cantilever retaining walls
72 different finite element analyses were performed to check the envisaged design dimensions obtained from optimization results

Summary

Introduction

Achievement of the stability of an excavation is the main design objective in order to avoid failure. In such a case, soldier piles are frequently used to support structures in geotechnical engineering applications that are constructed to resist lateral earth pressures caused by vertical excavation works or to restrain the movement of inclined ground. The passive lateral earth pressure can be defined as the resisting force to failure occurrence. These lateral pressures and their distribution through the depth can be changed depending on the nature of the surrounding soil profile and environmental conditions [2]. It is necessary to obtain the soil characterization of the site and to predict the geotechnical properties

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