Genetic Programming Approach for Estimating Energy Dissipation of Flow over Cascade Spillways

In this study, the hydraulics of cascade spillways were investigated by conducting a series of laboratory experiments; twenty different cascade spillways tested in a horizontal laboratory flume. A wide range of discharge values, three weir slope angles (15, 25 and 45 degrees), and different step numbers ranged from 3 to 50 on ogee surface were considered. Some data-based models were developed to explain the relationships between hydraulic parameters. Multiple regression equations were developed based on dimensional analysis theory to compute energy dissipation over cascade spillways. For testing the robustness of developed data-based models, genetic programming (GP) was used as a new computing technique. A GP approach was developed to relate the input and output (energy dissipation) variables. It was found that formulation based on the GP approach in solving energy dissipation problems over cascade spillways is more successful than the method based on the regression equation.