PINNs algorithm and its application in geotechnical engineering

The physical information neural networks (PINNs) algorithm, a new mesh-free algorithm, uses the automatic differential method to embed the partial differential equation directly into the neural networks so as to realize the intelligent solution of the partial differential equation, which has the advantages of fast convergence speed and high computational accuracy. The PINNs algorithm has a promising application in geotechnical engineering because it can solve the complex partial differential equations (PDEs) and inverse the unknown parameters of the PDEs. In order to verify the feasibility of the PINNs algorithm in geotechnical engineering, the one-dimensional consolidation process with the continuous drainage boundary condition is taken as an example to illustrate the procedures of the PINNs algorithm in terms of both the forward and inverse problems. The results show that the PINNs solution is highly consistent with the analytical one, indicating that the PINNs algorithm can provide an alternative approach for solving the related problems in geotechnical engineering.