Vibration mitigation of pile groups by coupling a wave-based vibration analysis and genetic algorithm

ABSTRACT This paper presents a coupled wave-based/genetic algorithm approach for vibration mitigation in a structure built on a pile group. The wave-based method considers the structure and foundation as a whole waveguide system in which the equations of wave propagation at waveguides and wave refraction at discontinuities are solved analytically using Timoshenko beam theory. These solutions are then assembled and solved numerically within a single system matrix. To model the ground, the viscoelastic soil around the piles is modelled using spring-dashpot elements. The wave-based method is used to evaluate a fitness function within a genetic algorithm procedure, and the resulting coupled tool is used for finding the optimal geometric characteristics of a pile group. The obtained results highlight the efficiency of the wave-based approach to be used in heuristic optimization algorithms such as genetic algorithm. In addition, it is observed that the optimal layout of the pile group depends significantly on loading frequency and soil properties.