Genetic Programming to Predict Bridge Pier Scour

• Published in: Journal of hydraulic engineering (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 136; no. 3; pp. 165 - 169
• Main Authors: Azamathulla, H. Md, Ghani, Aminuddin Ab, Zakaria, Nor Azazi, Guven, Aytac
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reston, VA American Society of Civil Engineers 01.03.2010
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bridge elements; Bridges; Buildings. Public works; Computation methods. Tables. Charts; Exact sciences and technology; Hydraulic constructions; River flow control. Flood control; Structural analysis. Stresses; TECHNICAL NOTES; Computer programming; Local scour; Artificial neural networks; Programming; Neural network; Forecast model; Modeling; Bridges; Radial basis function; Neural networks; Piers; Genetic programming; Observation; Bridge pier; Scour; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0733-9429; 1943-7900
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0000133

Bridge-pier scour is a significant problem for the safety of bridges. Extensive laboratory and field studies have been conducted examining the effect of relevant variables. This note presents an alternative to the conventional regression-based equations (HEC-18 and regression equation developed by the writers), in the form of artificial neural networks (ANNs) and genetic programming (GP). There had been 398 data sets of field measurements that were collected from published literature and were used to train the network or evolve the program. The developed network and evolved programs were validated by using the observations that were not involved in the training. The performance of GP was found more effective when compared to regression equations and ANNs in predicting the scour depth at bridge piers.