Optimum shape design of arch dams for earthquake loading using a fuzzy inference system and wavelet neural networks

An efficient methodology is proposed to find the optimum shape of arch dams considering fluid-structure interaction subject to earthquake loading. The earthquake load is considered by time variant ground acceleration applied in the upstream–downstream direction of the arch dam. The optimization is carried out by particle swarm optimization, employing real values of design variables. To reduce the computational cost of the optimization process, two strategies are adopted. In the first strategy, the most influential design variables on arch-dam response from original variables are selected using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system. In the second, arch-dam response is predicted by a properly trained wavelet radial basis function neural network employing the influential design variables as the inputs. In order to assess the effectiveness of the suggested methodology, a real arch dam is considered as a test example. The numerical results demonstrate the computational advantages of the proposed methodology for the optimal design of arch dams.