Improving the performance of LSSVM model in predicting the safety factor for circular failure slope through optimization algorithms

Circular failure can be seen in weak rocks, the slope of soil, mine dump, and highly jointed rock mass. The challenging issue is to accurately predict the safety factor (SF) and the behavior of slopes. The aim of this study is to offer advanced and accurate models to predict the SF of slopes through machine learning methods improved by optimization algorithms. To this view, three different methods, i.e., trial and error (TE) method, gravitational search algorithm (GSA), and whale optimization algorithm (WOA) were used to investigate the proper control parameters of least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) method. In the constructed LSSVM-TE, LSSVM-GSA and LSSVM-WOA methods, six effective parameters on the SF, such as pore pressure ratio and angle of internal friction, were used as the input parameters. The results of the error criteria indicated that both GSA and WOA can improve the performance prediction of the LSSVM method in predicting the SF. However, the LSSVM-WOA method, with root mean square error of 0.141, performed better than the LSSVM-GSA with root mean square error of 0.170.