Cuckoo Search

The Cuckoo Search is one of the Search Method options in Slide3 for locating critical slip surfaces.

The Cuckoo Search is a metaheuristic search method in which randomness is introduced in some steps of the algorithm.

To enable a Cuckoo Search:

1. In the Slip Surface Options dialog, set the Search Method = Cuckoo Search.
2. Set the Cuckoo Search Options (Max Iterations and Number of Nests).

The Cuckoo Search requires no user-defined search objects, the algorithm will run automatically when you select Compute.

Cuckoo Search Method

• Cuckoo Search can use either spherical, ellipsoidal or spline surfaces
• Search starts with a random population of "n" failure surfaces. Each surface is assigned to a nest, which contains the values of parameters used to define its shape. For example, a spherical slip surface can be defined using an entrance point, an exit point, and a radius. As these parameters are varied, different slip surfaces are obtained.
• For each nest, a new random surface with the parameter values changed based on its current surface is generated
• These new surfaces are compared with the solution in a random nest, if they have a lower factor of safety, they will replace the solution in that nest
• A small percent of the worst solutions in the ‘n’ nests will be thrown away and replaced by completely random new solutions
• This process is repeated for a finite number of iterations