Effective Hybrid Soft Computing Approach for Optimum Design of Shallow Foundations

In this study, an effective intelligent system based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) and a modified rat swarm optimizer (MRSO) was developed to predict the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations and their optimum design using the predicted bearing capacity value. To provide the neural network with adequate training and testing data, an extensive literature review was used to compile a database comprising 97 datasets retrieved from load tests both on large-scale and smaller-scale sized footings. To refine the network architecture, several trial and error experiments were performed using various numbers of neurons in the hidden layer. Accordingly, the optimal architecture of the ANN was 5 x 10 x 1. The performance and prediction capacity of the developed model were appraised using the root mean square error (RMSE) and correlation coefficient (R). According to the obtained results, the ANN model with a RMSE value equal to 0.0249 and R value equal to 0.9908 was a reliable, simple and valid computational model for estimating the load bearing capacity of footings. The developed ANN model was applied to a case study of spread footing optimization, and the results revealed that the proposed model is competent to provide better optimal solutions and to outperform traditional existing methods.