JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

Accurate prediction of pore water pressure in the body of earth dams during construction with accurate methods is one of the most important components in managing the stability of earth dams. The main objective of this research is to develop hybrid models based on fuzzy neural inference systems and meta-heuristic optimization algorithms. In this regard, the fuzzy neural inference system and optimizing meta-heuristic algorithms including genetic algorithms (GA), particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO), differential evolution algorithm (DE), ant colony optimization algorithm (ACOR), harmony search algorithm (HS), imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA), firefly algorithm (FA), and grey wolf optimizer algorithm (GWO) were used to improve training system. Three features including fill level, dam construction time, and reservoir level (dewatering) obtained from the dam instrumentation were selected as the inputs of hybrid models. The results showed that the hybrid model of the genetic algorithm in the test period had the best performance compared to other optimization algorithms with values of R2, RMSE, NRMSE, and MAE equal to 0.9540, 0.0866, 0.1232, and 0.0345, respectively. Also, ANFIS-GA, ANFIS-PSO, ANFIS-ICA, and ANFIS-HS hybrid algorithms performed better than ANFIS-GWO, ANFIS-FA, ANFIS-ACORE, and ANFIS-DE in improving ANFIS network training and predicting pore water pressure in the body earthen dams at the time of construction.