Proposing several hybrid PSO-extreme learning machine techniques to predict TBM performance

A proper planning schedule for tunnel boring machine (TBM) construction is considered as a necessary and difficult task in tunneling projects. Therefore, prediction of TBM performance with high degree of accuracy is needed to prepare a suitable planning schedule. This study aims to predict the advance rate of TBMs using optimized extreme learning machine (ELM) model with six particles swam optimization (PSO) techniques. Hence, six deterministically adaptive models, including time-varying acceleration (TAC)–PSO–ELM, improved PSO–ELM, Modified PSO–ELM, TAC–MeanPSO–ELM, improved MeanPSO–ELM, and Modified MeanPSO–ELM were developed. A number of performance criteria along with ranking system were used to identify the best model. The results showed that modified MeanPSO–ELM achieved the highest cumulative ranking (56), while the modified PSO–ELM achieved the lowest cumulative ranking (51). For training phase, improved PSO–ELM and TAC–PSO–ELM achieved the highest ranking (30) for each. The TAC–MeanPSO–ELM obtained the lowest ranking in the testing phase (29). Concerning the coefficient of determination (R²), modified PSO–ELM, improved PSO–ELM, TAC–PSO–ELM, and modified MeanPSO–ELM showed a similar behavior and achieved 0.97 for training and 0.96 for testing phases. Two models, including improved MeanPSO–ELM and TAC–MeanPSO–ELM achieved the same R² of 0.96 for both training and testing phases. The findings of this study suggest that the hybridization of ELM and PSO may result in more accurate results than single ELM model to predict the TBM advance rate.