An Optimized System of Random Forest Model by Global Harmony Search with Generalized Opposition-Based Learning for Forecasting TBM Advance Rate

As massive underground projects have become popular in dense urban cities,a problem has arisen:which model predicts the best for Tunnel Boring Machine(TBM)performance in these tunneling projects?However,performance level of TBMs in complex geological conditions is still a great challenge for practitioners and researchers.On the other hand,a reliable and accurate prediction of TBM performance is essential to planning an applicable tunnel construction schedule.The performance of TBM is very difficult to estimate due to various geotechnical and geological factors and machine specifications.The previously-proposed intelligent techniques in this field are mostly based on a single or base model with a low level of accuracy.Hence,this study aims to introduce a hybrid randomforest(RF)technique optimized by global harmony search with generalized oppositionbased learning(GOGHS)for forecasting TBM advance rate(AR).Optimizing the RF hyper-parameters in terms of,e.g.,tree number and maximum tree depth is the main objective of using the GOGHS-RF model.In the modelling of this study,a comprehensive databasewith themost influential parameters onTBMtogetherwithTBM AR were used as input and output variables,respectively.To examine the capability and power of the GOGHSRF model,three more hybrid models of particle swarm optimization-RF,genetic algorithm-RF and artificial bee colony-RF were also constructed to forecast TBM AR.Evaluation of the developed models was performed by calculating several performance indices,including determination coefficient(R2),root-mean-square-error(RMSE),and mean-absolute-percentage-error(MAPE).The results showed that theGOGHS-RF is a more accurate technique for estimatingTBMAR compared to the other applied models.The newly-developedGOGHS-RFmodel enjoyed R2=0.9937 and 0.9844,respectively,for train and test stages,which are higher than a pre-developed RF.Also,the importance of the input parameters was interpreted through the SHapley Additive exPlanations(SHAP)method,and it was found that thrust force per cutter is the most important variable on TBMAR.The GOGHS-RF model can be used in mechanized tunnel projects for predicting and checking performance.

Consolidation of partially saturated ground improved by impervious column inclusion:Governing equations and semi-analytical solutions

This study focuses on the consolidation behavior and mathematical interpretation of partially-saturated ground improved by impervious column inclusion.The constitutive relations for soil skeleton,pore air and pore water for partially saturated soils are proposed in the context of partially-saturated ground improved by impervious column inclusion.Settlement equation and dissipation equations of excess pore air/water pressures for a partially saturated improved ground are then derived.The semi-analytical solutions for ground settlement and pore pressure dissipation are then obtained through the Laplace transform and validated by the existing solutions for two special cases in the literature and the numerical results obtained from the finite difference method.A series of parametric studies is finally conducted to investigate the influence of some key factors on consolidation of partially saturated ground improved by impervious column inclusion.Based on the parametric study,it can be found that a higher value of the area replacement ratio or modulus of the pile results in a longer dissipation time of excess pore air pressure(PAP),a shorter dissipation time of excess pore water pressure(PWP),and a lower normalized settlement.

Hybrid ensemble soft computing approach for predicting penetration rate of tunnel boring machine in a rock environment

This study implements a hybrid ensemble machine learning method for forecasting the rate of penetration(ROP) of tunnel boring machine(TBM),which is becoming a prerequisite for reliable cost assessment and project scheduling in tunnelling and underground projects in a rock environment.For this purpose,a sum of 185 datasets was collected from the literature and used to predict the ROP of TBM.Initially,the main dataset was utilised to construct and validate four conventional soft computing(CSC)models,i.e.minimax probability machine regression,relevance vector machine,extreme learning machine,and functional network.Consequently,the estimated outputs of CSC models were united and trained using an artificial neural network(ANN) to construct a hybrid ensemble model(HENSM).The outcomes of the proposed HENSM are superior to other CSC models employed in this study.Based on the experimental results(training RMSE=0.0283 and testing RMSE=0.0418),the newly proposed HENSM is potential to assist engineers in predicting ROP of TBM in the design phase of tunnelling and underground projects.