Sensitizing influenced factors on discharge of labyrinth weirs using ANFIS model

In the article, through the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), a sensitivity analysis is conducted on the variables affecting the discharge capacity of the weir. To this end, the variables affecting the discharge capacity of labyrinth weirs are initially identified. Then, using these input parameters, seven ANFIS models are developed for conducting the sensitivity analysis. After that, the most optimal membership function number for the ANFIS model is chosen. In other words, by conducting the trial and error process, the best number of the membership functions in terms of time and modeling accuracy are selected. Then, the sensitivity analysis is performed for the ANFIS models and the superior ANFIS model is chosen finally. The accuracy of the superior model in both the validation and testing artificial intelligence (AI) methods is in an acceptable range. For example, the scatter index (SI), correlation coefficient (R) and the Nash-Sutcliff efficiency coefficient (NSC) for the model in the testing mode are obtained 0.049, 0.964 and 0.924, respectively. It should be noticed that the outcomes of the sensitivity analysis show that the ratio of the weir head to the weir crest and the Froude number are introduced as the most effective input parameters. Eventually, a computer code is proposed to estimate the discharge capacity of labyrinth weirs by this model.