Support vector regression-based model for prediction of behavior stone column parameters in soft clay under highway embankment

In order to have a proper design and analysis for the column of stone in the soft clay soil, it is essential to develop an accurate prediction model for the settlement behavior of the stone column. In the current research, to predict the behavior in the settlement of stone column a support vector machine (SVM) method is developed and examined. In addition, the proposed model has been compared with the existing reference settlement prediction model that using the monitored field data. As SVM mathematical procedure has resilient and robust generalization aptitude and ensures searching for global minima for particular training data as well. Therefore, the potential that support vector regression might perform efficiently to predict the ground soft clay settlement is relatively valuable. As a result, in this study, comparison of two different developed types of SVM method is carried out. Generally, significant reduction in the relative error (RE%) and root mean square error has been achieved. Utilizing nu-SVM-type model through tenfold cross-validation procedure could achieve outstanding performance accuracy level with RE% less than 2% and CR = 0.9987. The study demonstrates high potential for applying SVM in detecting the settlement behavior of SC prediction and ascertains that SVM could be effectively used for settlement stone columns analysis