The Application of Particle Swarm Optimization on the Search of Critical Slip Surface

Abstract

The stress filed and deformation of the slope could be calculated by FEM method, but the coefficient of safety could not be obtained from the results. It is relatively straightforward to get the coefficient of safety when the critical slip surface (CSS) is clear based on stress filed, while it is complex when the CSS is unknown. However, there are several methods to solute the problem. Such as displacement method, genetic algorithm etc. In this paper, based on stress field, choosing the Particle Swarm Optimization as tools, letting limited bit of coordinates as parameters, assigning the coefficient of safety of the slope as optimum object, a new method to define the coefficient of safety when CSS is unknown is put forward. The program of ACA is developed in the paper, and the Australia examination 1(a) is calculated by the program. The results show that the method in this paper is feasible.

The Contribution of Particle Swarm Optimization to Three-Dimensional Slope Stability Analysis

“…Furthermore, in a comparison with pattern method, they [ 17 ] reported that PSO is capable of finding the global minimum FOS and its related CSS in different slopes. Ever since, PSO has been used progressively as an effective technique to deal with the problem of determining the CSS, to name a few, Cheng et al [ 17 ], Cheng et al [ 18 ], Zhao et al [ 19 ], Tian et al [ 20 ], Li et al [ 21 ], Kalatehjari et al [ 22 , 23 ], and W. Chen and P. Chen [ 24 ]. However, the contribution of PSO was limited to 2D slope stability problem.…”