Optimization of weight and cost of cantilever retaining wall by a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm

• Published in: Engineering with computers Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 2897 - 2923
• Main Authors: Sharma, Sushmita, Saha, Apu Kumar, Lohar, Geetanjali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer London 01.08.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algorithms; CAE) and Design; Calculus of Variations and Optimal Control; Optimization; Classical Mechanics; Computer Science; Computer-Aided Engineering (CAD; Control; Convergence; Design engineering; Heuristic methods; Lateral pressure; Math. Applications in Chemistry; Mathematical and Computational Engineering; Optimization; Optimization techniques; Original Article; Problem solving; Rank tests; Retaining walls; Symbiosis; Systems Theory; Symbiosis organisms search; Cantilever retaining wall; Butterfly optimization algorithm; Hybrid algorithm; Meta-heuristics
• ISSN: 0177-0667; 1435-5663
• DOI: 10.1007/s00366-021-01294-x

A retaining wall is a structure used to resist the lateral pressure of soil or any backfill material. Cantilever retaining walls provide resistance to overturning and sliding by using backfill weight. In this paper, the weight and cost of the cantilever retaining wall have been minimized using a hybrid metaheuristic optimization technique, namely, h-BOASOS. The algorithm has been developed by the ensemble of two popular metaheuristics, butterfly optimization algorithm (BOA) and symbiosis organism search (SOS) algorithm. BOA’s exploratory intensity is coupled with SOS’s greater exploitative capacity to find the superior algorithm h-BOASOS. The newly developed algorithm has been tested with a suite of 35 classical benchmark functions, and the results are compared with several state-of-the-art metaheuristic algorithms. The results are evaluated statistically by the Friedman rank test, and convergence curves measure the convergence speed of the algorithm. It is observed in both cases that h-BOASOS is superior to other algorithms. The suggested approach is then used to solve four real-world engineering design problems to examine the problem-solving capacity of the proposed algorithm, and the results are contrasted with a wide range of algorithms. The proposed h-BOASOS is considered to be the winner on each occasion. Finally, the newly suggested algorithm is applied to find the cost and weight of the cantilever retaining wall problems of two different heights, 3.2 m and 6.3 m. The obtained results are compared with the component algorithms and found that the new algorithm works better than the compared algorithms.