Inverse analyses of arch dam displacements using improved parallel genetic algorithm

Classic genetic algorithms require a large number of calculations for back analyses of arch dam displacements with many false solutions. Based on niche technology adaptive crossover and mutation probabilities method improves the genetic algorithms results. A parallel genetic algorithm, which uses the adaptive probabilities, was developed for back analyses of arch dam displacements. The displacement analysis results for the Xiluodu arch dam agreed well with displacements measured in model experiments. The results show that the method avoids false solutions that often occur with simple genetic algorithms and has good convergence. The parallel computation efficiency was 43% with 16 CPUs. Therefore, the algorithm is suitable for back analyses of complex 3-D structures like arch dams.