Minimization of Earth Dam Cross Section Area Using Modified Harmony Search algorithm

Many critical slip surface search programs using different optimization search algorithms have been written but using these to design an optimized earth dam has never performed. Reducing cross sectionarea of earth dams causes reducing cost of construction and material consumption of these structures.Obtaining optimum cross section for earth dams using traditional methods is a time consuming work that may not really result the best answer. In this paper, a modified harmony search optimization algorithm has been used to solve this complicated problem. Slope stability analysis is performed considering noncircularrandom-slip surface by MATLAB programming and Spencer method. Performing proposedmethod showed that obtaining the stable slopes in case of design an earth dam with minimum cross section can be achieved in less time and result in the most optimum shape comparison to traditional trials and error method.

Keywords:

Earth Dam , Slope stability , Failure surface , Factor of safety , Harmony Search Algorithm