Optimization of the Critical Slip Surface of Three-Dimensional Slope by Using an Improved Genetic Algorithm

Abstract

An improved genetic algorithm is proposed to optimize the potential sliding surface of slopes. Compared with a conventional genetic algorithm, the genetic recombination between the previous generation and the newly generated population around the local optimal individual of the previous generation is performed in the improved genetic algorithm, while the genetic recombination between the previous generations is performed in the conventional genetic algorithm. The improved genetic algorithm has the advantage of faster convergence than the conventional genetic algorithm. Moreover, the rigorous limit equilibrium method is applied to define the safety factor of slopes. Two examples are illustrated to prove the efficiency of the improved genetic algorithm.