• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.237-251
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• 2021

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the performance of the proposed hybrid teaching-learning based optimization algorithm on the optimum design of reinforced concrete (RC) cantilever retaining walls. For this purpose, three different design examples are optimized with 100 independent runs considering continuous and discrete variables. In order to determine the algorithm performance, the optimization results were compared with the outcomes of the nine powerful meta-heuristic algorithms applied to this problem, previously: the big bang-big crunch (BB-BC), the biogeography based optimization (BBO), the flower pollination (FPA), the grey wolf optimization (GWO), the harmony search (HS), the particle swarm optimization (PSO), the teaching-learning based optimization (TLBO), the jaya (JA), and Rao-3 algorithms. Moreover, Rao-1 and Rao-2 algorithms are applied to this design problem for the first time. The objective function is defined as minimizing the total material and labor costs including concrete, steel, and formwork per unit length of the cantilever retaining walls subjected to the requirements of the American Concrete Institute (ACI 318-05). Furthermore, the effects of peak ground acceleration value on minimum total cost is investigated using various stem height, surcharge loads, and backfill slope angle. Finally, the most robust results were obtained by HTLBO with 50 populations. Consequently the optimization results show that, depending on the increase in PGA value, the optimum cost of RC cantilever retaining walls increases smoothly with the stem height but increases rapidly with the surcharge loads and backfill slope angle.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.567-581
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• 2023

The prediction and achievement of a proper rock fragmentation size is the main challenge of blasting operations in surface mines. This is because an optimum size distribution can optimize the overall mine/plant economics. To this end, this study attempts to develop four improved artificial intelligence models to predict rock fragmentation through cascaded forward neural network (CFNN) and radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) models. In this regards, the CFNN was trained by the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm (LMA) and Conjugate gradient backpropagation (CGP). Further, the RBFNN was optimized by the Dragonfly Algorithm (DA) and teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO). For developing the models, the database required was collected from the Midouk copper mine, Iran. After modeling, the statistical functions were computed to check the accuracy of the models, and the root mean square errors (RMSEs) of CFNN-LMA, CFNN-CGP, RBFNN-DA, and RBFNN-TLBO were obtained as 1.0656, 1.9698, 2.2235, and 1.6216, respectively. Accordingly, CFNN-LMA, with the lowest RMSE, was determined as the model with the best prediction results among the four examined in this study.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.88 no.3
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• pp.273-285
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• 2023

This study examines how the interaction between soil and a wind turbine's supporting system affects the optimal design. The supporting system resting on an elastic soil foundation consists of a steel conical tower and a concrete circular raft foundation, and it is subjected to wind loads. The material cost of the supporting system is aimed to be minimized employing various metaheuristic optimization algorithms including teaching-learning based optimization (TLBO). To include the influence of the soil in the optimization process, modified Vlasov and Gazetas elastic soil models are integrated into the optimization algorithms using the application programing interface (API) feature of the structural analysis program providing two-way data flow. As far as the optimal designs are considered, the best minimum cost design is achieved for the TLBO algorithm, and the modified Vlasov model makes the design economical compared with the simple Gazetas and infinitely rigid soil models. Especially, the optimum design dimensions of the raft foundation extremely reduce when the Vlasov realistic soil reactions are included in the optimum analysis. Additionally, as the designated design wind speed is decreased, the beneficial impact of soil interaction on the optimum material cost diminishes.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.375-387
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• 2022

One of the latest teaching strategies is smart classroom teaching. Teaching is carried out with the assistance of smart teaching technologies to improve teacher-student contact, increase students' learning autonomy, and give fresh ideas for the fulfillment of students' deep learning. Computer-based technology has improved students' language learning and significantly motivating them to continue learning while also stimulating their creativity and enthusiasm. However, the difficulties and barriers that many EFL instructors are faced on seeking to integrate information and communication technology (ICT) into their instruction have raised discussions and concerns regarding ICT's real worth in the language classroom. This is a case study that includes observations in the classroom, field notes, interviews, and written materials. In EFL classrooms, both computer-based and non-computer-based activities were recorded and analyzed. The main instrument in this study was a survey questionnaire comprising 43 items, which was used to examine the efficiency of ICT integration in teaching and learning in public schools in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 101 questionnaires were delivered, while each responder being requested to read the statements provided. The total number of respondents for this study was 101 teachers from Kuala Lumpur's public secondary schools. The questionnaire was randomly distributed to respondents with a teaching background. This study indicated the accuracy of utilizing Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO) in analyzing the survey results and potential for students to learn English as a foreign language using computers. Also, the usage of foreign language may be improved if real computer-based activities are introduced into the lesson.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.339-352
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• 2022

Studying slope stability is an important branch of civil engineering. In this way, engineers have employed machine learning models, due to their high efficiency in complex calculations. This paper examines the robustness of various novel optimization schemes, namely equilibrium optimizer (EO), Harris hawks optimization (HHO), water cycle algorithm (WCA), biogeography-based optimization (BBO), dragonfly algorithm (DA), grey wolf optimization (GWO), and teaching learning-based optimization (TLBO) for enhancing the performance of adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) in slope stability prediction. The hybrid models estimate the factor of safety (F_S) of a cohesive soil-footing system. The role of these algorithms lies in finding the optimal parameters of the membership function in the fuzzy system. By examining the convergence proceeding of the proposed hybrids, the best population sizes are selected, and the corresponding results are compared to the typical ANFIS. Accuracy assessments via root mean square error, mean absolute error, mean absolute percentage error, and Pearson correlation coefficient showed that all models can reliably understand and reproduce the F_S behavior. Moreover, applying the WCA, EO, GWO, and TLBO resulted in reducing both learning and prediction error of the ANFIS. Also, an efficiency comparison demonstrated the WCA-ANFIS as the most accurate hybrid, while the GWO-ANFIS was the fastest promising model. Overall, the findings of this research professed the suitability of improved intelligent models for practical slope stability evaluations.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.701-708
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• 2017

This paper proposes an optimum design method using Teaching-Learning-based optimization for the fuzzy PID controller of Magnetic levitation rail-guided vehicle. Since an attraction-type levitation system is intrinsically unstable, it is difficult to completely satisfy the desired performance through the conventional control methods. In the paper, a fuzzy PID controller with fixed parameters is applied and then the optimum parameters of fuzzy PID controller are selected by Teaching-Learning optimization. For the fitness function of Teaching-Learning optimization, the performance index of PID controller is used. To verify the performances of the proposed method, we use a Maglev model and compare the proposed method with the performance of PID controller. The simulation results show that the proposed method is more effective than conventional PID controller.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.197-210
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• 2019

Motion generation of a four-bar linkage is a type of mechanism synthesis that has a wide range of applications such as a pick-and-place operation in manufacturing. In this research, the use of meta-heuristics for motion generation of a four-bar linkage is demonstrated. Three problems of motion generation were posed as a constrained optimization probably using the weighted sum technique to handle two types of tracking errors. A simple penalty function technique was used to deal with design constraints while three meta-heuristics including differential evolution (DE), self-adaptive differential evolution (JADE) and teaching learning based optimization (TLBO) were employed to solve the problems. Comparative results and the effect of the constraint handling technique are illustrated and discussed.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.455-462
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• 2018

The measurement and monitoring of the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) play an important role in the planning and operation of wastewater treatment plants. The most basic method for determining biochemical oxygen demand is direct measurement. However, this method is both expensive and takes a long time. A five-day period is required to determine the biochemical oxygen demand. This study has been carried out in a wastewater treatment plant in Turkey (Hurma WWTP) in order to estimate the biochemical oxygen demand a shorter time and with a lower cost. Estimation was performed using artificial neural network (ANN) method. There are three different methods in the training of artificial neural networks, respectively, multi-layered (ML-ANN), teaching learning based algorithm (TLBO-ANN) and artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC-ANN). The input flow (Q), wastewater temperature (t), pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended sediment (SS), total phosphorus (tP), total nitrogen (tN), and electrical conductivity of wastewater (EC) are used as the input parameters to estimate the BOD. The root mean squared error (RMSE) and the mean absolute error (MAE) values were used in evaluating performance criteria for each model. As a result of the general evaluation, the ML-ANN method provided the best estimation results both training and test series with 0.8924 and 0.8442 determination coefficient, respectively.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.315-327
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• 2016

Damage detection and localisation in structures is essential since it can be a means for preventive maintenance of those structures under service conditions. The use of structural modal data for detecting the damage is one of the most efficient methods. This paper presents comparative performance of various state-of-the-art meta-heuristics for use in structural damage detection based on changes in modal data. The metaheuristics include differential evolution (DE), artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC), real-code ant colony optimisation (ACOR), charged system search (ChSS), league championship algorithm (LCA), simulated annealing (SA), particle swarm optimisation (PSO), evolution strategies (ES), teaching-learning-based optimisation (TLBO), adaptive differential evolution (JADE), evolution strategy with covariance matrix adaptation (CMAES), success-history based adaptive differential evolution (SHADE) and SHADE with linear population size reduction (L-SHADE). Three truss structures are used to pose several test problems for structural damage detection. The meta-heuristics are then used to solve the test problems treated as optimisation problems. Comparative performance is carried out where the statistically best algorithms are identified.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.75 no.2
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• pp.175-191
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• 2020

In this study, multi-story structures are actively controlled using metaheuristic algorithms. The soil conditions such as dense, normal and soft soil are considered under near-fault ground motions consisting of two types of impulsive motions called directivity effect (fault normal component) and the flint step (fault parallel component). In the active tendon-controlled structure, Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) type controller optimized by the proposed algorithms was used to achieve a control signal and to produce a corresponding control force. As the novelty of the study, the parameters of PID controller were determined by different metaheuristic algorithms to find the best one for seismic structures. These algorithms are flower pollination algorithm (FPA), teaching learning based optimization (TLBO) and Jaya Algorithm (JA). Furthermore, since the influence of time delay on the structural responses is an important issue for active control systems, it should be considered in the optimization process and time domain analyses. The proposed method was applied for a 15-story structural model and the feasible results were found by limiting the maximum control force for the near-fault records defined in FEMA P-695. Finally, it was determined that the active control using metaheuristic algorithms optimally reduced the structural responses and can be applied for the buildings with the soil-structure interaction (SSI).