Rock Strain Prediction Using Deep Neural Network and Hybrid Models of ANFIS and Meta-Heuristic Optimization Algorithms

The majority of natural ground vibrations are caused by the release of strain energy accumulated in the rock strata. The strain reacts to the formation of crack patterns and rock stratum failure. Rock strain prediction is one of the significant works for the assessment of the failure of rock material. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the development of a new strain prediction approach in rock samples utilizing deep neural network (DNN) and hybrid ANFIS (adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system) models. Four optimization algorithms, namely particle swarm optimization (PSO), Fireflies algorithm (FF), genetic algorithm (GA), and grey wolf optimizer (GWO), were used to optimize the learning parameters of ANFIS and ANFIS-PSO, ANFIS-FF, ANFIS-GA, and ANFIS-GWO were constructed. For this purpose, the necessary datasets were obtained from an experimental setup of an unconfined compression test of rocks in lateral and longitudinal directions. Various statistical parameters were used to investigate the accuracy of the proposed prediction models. In addition, rank analysis was performed to select the most robust model for accurate rock sample prediction. Based on the experimental results, the constructed DNN is very potential to be a new alternative to assist engineers to estimate the rock strain in the design phase of many engineering projects.