Optimization of slope critical surfaces considering seepage and seismic effects using finite element method and five meta-heuristic algorithms

Abstract

One of the most crucial geotechnical engineering problems is the stability of slopes that are still attracting scientists and engineers. In this study, five recently developed meta-heuristic methods are utilized to determine the Critical Failure Surface (CFS) and its corresponding Factor of Safety (FOS). Through the FOS calculations, the Finite Element Method (FEM) is employed to convert the strong form of the main differential equation to a weak form. Additional to the general loading, seismic forces and seepage effect are considered, as well. Finally, the proposed optimization procedure is applied to numerical benchmark examples, and results are compared with other methods.