• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.84 no.2
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• pp.143-154
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• 2022

Corrosion of steel reinforcement is considered as the main cause of concrete structures deterioration, especially those under humid environmental conditions. Hence, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars are being increasingly used as a replacement for conventional steel owing to their non-corrodible characteristics. However, predicting the shear strength of beams reinforced with FRP bars still challenging due to the lack of robust shear theory. Thus, this paper aims to develop an explicit data driven based model to predict the shear strength of FRP reinforced beams using multi-objective evolutionary polynomial regression analysis (MOGA-EPR) as data driven models learn the behavior from the input data without the need to employee a theory that aid the derivation, and thus they have an enhanced accuracy. This study also evaluates the accuracy of predictive models of shear strength of FRP reinforced concrete beams employed by different design codes by calculating and comparing the values of the mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), mean (𝜇), standard deviation of the mean (𝜎), coefficient of determination (R²), and percentage of prediction within error range of ±20% (a20-index). Experimental database has been developed and employed in the model learning, validation, and accuracy examination. The statistical analysis illustrated the robustness of the developed model with MAE, RMSE, 𝜇, 𝜎, R², and a20-index of 14.6, 20.8, 1.05, 0.27, 0.85, and 0.61, respectively for training data and 10.4, 14.1, 0.98, 0.25, 0.94, and 0.60, respectively for validation data. Furthermore, the developed model achieved much better predictions than the standard predictive models as it scored lower MAE, RMSE, and 𝜎, and higher R² and a20-index. The new model can be used in future with confidence in optimized designs as its accuracy is higher than standard predictive models.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.83 no.5
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• pp.671-680
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• 2022

The shear capacity of beams is an essential parameter in designing beams carrying shear loads. Precise estimation of the ultimate shear capacity typically requires comprehensive calculation methods. For steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams, traditional design methods may not accurately predict the interaction between different parameters affecting ultimate shear capacity. In this study, artificial neural network (ANN) modeling was utilized to predict the ultimate shear capacity of SFRC beams using ten input parameters. The results demonstrated that the ANN with 30 neurons had the best performance based on the values of root mean square error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R²) compared to other ANN models with different neurons. Analysis of the ANN model has shown that the clear shear span to depth ratio significantly affects the predicted ultimate shear capacity, followed by the reinforcement steel tensile strength and steel fiber tensile strength. Moreover, a Genetic Algorithm (GA) was used to optimize the ANN model's input parameters, resulting in the least cost for the SFRC beams. Results have shown that SFRC beams' cost increased with the clear span to depth ratio. Increasing the clear span to depth ratio has increased the depth, height, steel, and fiber ratio needed to support the SFRC beams against shear failures. This study approach is considered among the earliest in the field of SFRC.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.599-611
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• 2022

Tendon reinforced cemented soil is applied extensively in foundation stabilisation and improvement, especially in areas with soft clay. To solve the deterioration problem led by steel corrosion, the glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) tendon is introduced to substitute the traditional steel tendon. The interface bond strength between the cemented soil matrix and GFRP tendon demonstrates the outstanding mechanical property of this composite. However, the lack of research between the influence factors and bond strength hinders the application. To evaluate these factors, back propagation neural network (BPNN) is applied to predict the relationship between them and bond strength. Since adjusting BPNN parameters is time-consuming and laborious, the particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm is proposed. This study evaluated the influence of water content, cement content, curing time, and slip distance on the bond performance of GFRP tendon-reinforced cemented soils (GTRCS). The results showed that the ultimate and residual bond strengths were both in positive proportion to cement content and negative to water content. The sample cured for 28 days with 30% water content and 50% cement content had the largest ultimate strength (3879.40 kPa). The PSO-BPNN model was tuned with 3 neurons in the input layer, 10 in the hidden layer, and 1 in the output layer. It showed outstanding performance on a large database comprising 405 testing results. Its higher correlation coefficient (0.908) and lower root-mean-square error (239.11 kPa) were obtained compared to multiple linear regression (MLR) and logistic regression (LR). In addition, a sensitivity analysis was applied to acquire the ranking of the input variables. The results illustrated that the cement content performed the strongest influence on bond strength, followed by the water content and slip displacement.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.939-956
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• 2015

In this study, in order to propose an efficient model to predict the torque capacity of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams, the existing experimental data related to torsional response of beams is reviewed. It is observed that existing data neglects the effects of some parameters on the variation of torque capacity. Thus, an experimental research was also conducted to obtain the effects of neglected parameters. In the experimental study, a total of seventeen SFRC beams are tested against torsion. The parameters considered in the experiments are concrete compressive strength, steel fiber aspect ratio, volumetric ratio of steel fibers and longitudinal reinforcement ratio. The effect of each parameter is discussed in terms of torque versus unit angle of twist graphs. The data obtained from this experimental research is also combined with the data got from previous studies and employed in artificial neural network (ANN) analysis to estimate the ultimate torque capacity of SFRC beams. In addition to parameters considered in the experiments, aspect ratio of beam cross-section, yield strengths of both transverse and longitudinal reinforcements, and transverse reinforcement ratio are also defined as parameters in ANN analysis due to their significant effects observed in previous studies. Assessment of the accuracy of ANN analysis in estimating the ultimate torque capacity of SFRC beams is performed by comparing the analytical and experimental results. Comparisons are conducted in terms of root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and coefficient of efficiency ($E_f$). The results of this study revealed that addition of steel fibers increases the ultimate torque capacity of reinforced concrete beams. It is also found that ANN is a powerful method and a feasible tool to estimate ultimate torque capacity of both normal and high strength concrete beams within the range of input parameters considered.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.257-266
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of post types and sizes on fracture resistance in immature tooth model with various restorative techniques. Bovine incisors were sectioned 8 mm above and 12 mm below the cementoenamel junction to simulate immature tooth model. To compare various post-and-core restorations, canals were restored with gutta-percha and resin core, or reinforced dentin wall with dual-cured resin composite, followed by placement of D.T. LIGHT-POST, ParaPost XT, and various sizes of EverStick Post individually. All of specimens were stored in the distilled water for 72 hours and underwent 6,000 thermal cycles. After simulation of periodontal ligament structure with polyether impression material, compressive load was applied at 45 degrees to the long axis of the specimen until fracture was occurred. Experimental groups reinforced with post and composite resin were shown significantly higher fracture strength than gutta-percha group without post placement (p < 0.05). Most specimens fractured limited to cervical third of roots. Post types did not influence on fracture resistance and fracture level significantly when cement space was filled with dual-cured resin composite. In addition, no statistically significant differences were seen between customized and standardized glass fiber posts, which cement spaces were filled with resin cement or composite resin individually. Therefore, root reinforcement procedures as above in immature teeth improved fracture resistance regardless of post types and sizes.