Machine learning prediction and optimization of compressive strength for blended concrete by applying ANN and genetic algorithm

Abstract

Before using concrete for a particular purpose, its strength must be determined because its physical properties vary depending on the type of supplementary cementitious material (SCMs). Initially, researchers anticipated it with statistical processes; more recently, they started implementing deep learning (DL) and machine learning (ML) models. This research employed ensemble machine learning (EML) approaches to predict the compressive strength (CS) of concrete developed for ground-granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) along with Alccofine 1203 (AF). Ensemble regressions of Random Forest Regression (RFR) and AdaBoost Regression (ABR) were considered for model prediction using the Jupyter Notebook. The models were created based on the outcome of the compressive strength under the 90 experimental conditions. Moreover, a comparative study was performed between the RFR and ABR to benchmark the proposed model against a given combination of features and CS. The experimental conditions were optimized using a genetic algorithm (GA) after the model was created by ANN. With the two EML algorithms, the smallest errors, along with the largest coefficient of determination, were observed in the RFR algorithm. It was recognized that the optimized value of CS is 48.606 MPa, and their optimized process elements such as cement, alccofine, GGBS, water, and days were 261.506 kg/m3, 0.055 kg/m3, 52.468 kg/m3, 141.007 L, and 27.999 days, respectively.

Keywords

• Compressive strength
• Alccofine
• GGBFS
• Machine learning
• ANN
• Genetic Algorithm