The use of three artificial neural network (ANN)-based models for the prediction of unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of granite using three non-destructive test indicators, namely pulse velocity, Schmidt hammer rebound number, and effective porosity, has been investigated in this study. For this purpose, a sum of 274 datasets was compiled and used to train and validate three ANN models including ANN constructed using Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm (ANN-LM), a combination of ANN and particle swarm optimization (ANN-PSO), and a combination of ANN and imperialist competitive algorithm (ANN-ICA). The constructed ANN-LM model was proven to be the most accurate based on experimental findings. In the validation phase, the ANN-LM model has achieved the best predictive performance withR = 0.9607 and RMSE = 14.8272. Experimental results show that the developed ANN-LM outperforms a number of existing models available in the literature. Furthermore, a Graphical User Interface (GUI) has been developed which can be readily used to estimate the UCS of granite through the ANN-LM model. The developed GUI is made available as a supplementary material.

Uncertainty and variability are inherent to pile design and consequently, there have been considerable researches in quantifying the reliability or probability of failure of structures. This paper aims at examining and comparing the applicability and adaptability of Minimax Probability Machine Regression (MPMR), Emotional Neural Network (ENN), Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH), and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) in the reliability analysis of pile embedded in cohesionless soil and proposes an AI-based prediction method for bearing capacity of pile foundation. To ascertain the homogeneity and distribution of the datasets, Mann–Whitney U (M–W) and Anderson–Darling (AD) tests are carried out, respectively. The performance of the developed soft computing models is ascertained using various statistical parameters. A comparative study is implemented among reliability indices of the proposed models by employing First Order Second Moment Method (FOSM). The results of FOSM showed that the ANFIS approach outperformed other models for reliability analysis of bearing capacity of pile and ENN is the worst performing model. The value of R² for all the developed models is close to 1. The best RMSE value is achieved for the training phase of the ANFIS model (0 in training and 2.13 in testing) and the poorest for the ENN (2.03 in training and 31.24 in testing) model. Based on the experimental results of reliability indices, the developed ANFIS model is found to be very close to that computed from the original data.

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.