Estimation of the Local Scour from a Cylindrical Bridge Pier Using a Compilation Wavelet Model and Artificial Neural Network

In the present study, an artificial neural network and its combination with wavelet theory are used as the computational tool to predict the depth of local scouring from the bridge pier. The five variables measured are the pier diameter of the bridge, the critical and the average velocities, the average diameter of the bed aggregates, and the flow depth. In this study, the neural wavelet method is used as a preprocessor. The data was passed through the wavelet filter and then passed to the artificial neural network. Among the various wavelet functions used for preprocessing, the dmey function results in the highest correlation coefficient and the lowest RMSE and is more efficient than other functions. In the wavelet-neural network compilation method, the neural network activator function was replaced by different wavelet functions. The results show that the neural network method with the Polywog4 wavelet activator function with a correlation coefficient of 87% is an improvement of 8.75% compared to the normal neural network model. By performing data filtering by wavelet and using the resulting coefficients in the neural network, the resulting correlation coefficient is 82%, only a 2.5% improvement compared to the normal neural network. By analyzing the results obtained from neural network methods, the wavelet-neural network predicted errors compared to experimental observations were 8.26, 1.56, and 1.24%, respectively. According to the evaluation criteria, combination of the best effective hydraulic parameters, the combination of wavelet function and neural network, and the number of neural network neurons achieved the best results.