• Computers and Concrete
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.521-532
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• 2021

Present paper focuses on the modeling of size effect on the compressive strength of normal concrete with the application of Discrete Element Method (DEM). Test specimens with different size and shape were cast and uniaxial compressive strength test was performed on each sample. Five different concrete mixes were used, all belonging to a different normal strength concrete class (C20/25, C30/37, C35/45, C45/55, and C50/60). The numerical simulations were carried out by using the PFC 5 software, which applies rigid spheres and contacts between them to model the material. DEM modeling of size effect could be advantageous because the development of micro-cracks in the material can be observed and the failure mode can be visualized. The series of experiments were repeated with the model after calibration. The relationship of the parallel bond strength of the contacts and the laboratory compressive strength test was analyzed by aiming to determine a relation between the compressive strength and the bond strength of different sized models. An equation was derived based on Bazant's size effect law to estimate the parallel bond strength of differently sized specimens. The parameters of the equation were optimized based on measurement data using nonlinear least-squares method with SSE (sum of squared errors) objective function. The laboratory test results showed a good agreement with the literature data (compressive strength is decreasing with the increase of the size of the specimen regardless of the shape). The derived estimation models showed strong correlation with the measurement data. The results indicated that the size effect is stronger on concretes with lower strength class due to the higher level of inhomogeneity of the material. It was observed that size effect is more significant on cube specimens than on cylinder samples, which can be caused by the side ratios of the specimens and the size of the purely compressed zone. A limit value for the minimum size of DE model for cubes and cylinder was determined, above which the size effect on compressive strength can be neglected within the investigated size range. The relationship of model size (particle number) and computational time was analyzed and a method to decrease the computational time (number of iterations) of material genesis is proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.133-143
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• 2016

The objective in here is to find the density, stiffness, and strength of truss-wall rectangular (TWR) model which is combined with lattice truss (MLT) inside space. The TWR unit-cell model is defined as a unit cell originated from a solid-wall rectangular (SWR) model and it has an empty space inside. Thus, the empty space inside of the TWR is filled with lattice truss model defined as TWR-MLT. The ideal solutions derived of TWR-MLT are based on TWR with MLT model and it has developed by Gibson-Ashby's theory. To validate the ideal solutions of the TWR-MLT, ABAQUS software is applied to predict the density, strength, and stiffness, and then each of them are compared with the Gibson-Ashby's ideal solution as a log-log scale. Applied material property is stainless steel 304 because of cost effectiveness and easy to get around. For the analysis, SWR and TWR-MLT models are 1mm, 2mm, and 3mm truss diameter separately within a fixed 20mm opening width. In conclusion, the relative Young's modulus and relative yield strength of the TWR-MLT unit model is reasonably matched to the ideal expectations of the Gibson-Ashby's theory. In nearby future, TWR-MLT model can be verified by advanced technologies such as 3D printing skills.t.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.1009-1014
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• 2006

Synthetic materials with excellent thermodynamic characteristics and the merit of anti-corrosion are frequently used in buildings and constructions for enforcement of bent in stead of steel plates. Among them, many practical studies have been conducted on bond strength because of increased bond strength of FRP plates. Previous investigators identified the bond strength of FRP plates through experiments with settlement of various variables to identify the bond strength. However, the experiments to identify the bond force are difficult to be conducted because they requires large expenses and long time for equipment arrangement, thus, are conducted with limitation. In this study, for bond experiment, optimum neural network model was developed with use of Back-propagation and Conjugate gradient technique of previous investigators. Learning was performed with use of the variables of previous investigators in developed neural network model so as to identify the bond strength of FRP plates. for verification of developed model, credibility and excellence was proven by comparing with the models of previous investigators.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.181-195
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• 2023

To predict the rheological behaviours along with the compressive strength of self-compacting concrete that incorporates environmentally friendly ingredients as cement substitutes, a comparative evaluation of machine learning methods is conducted. To model four parameters, slump flow diameter, L-box ratio, V-funnel time, as well as compressive strength at 28 days-a complete mix design dataset from available pieces of literature is gathered and used to construct the suggested machine learning standards, SVM, MARS, and Mp5-MT. Six input variables-the amount of binder, the percentage of SCMs, the proportion of water to the binder, the amount of fine and coarse aggregates, and the amount of superplasticizer are grouped in a particular pattern. For optimizing the hyper-parameters of the MARS model with the lowest possible prediction error, a gravitational search algorithm (GSA) is required. In terms of the correlation coefficient for modelling slump flow diameter, L-box ratio, V-funnel duration, and compressive strength, the prediction results showed that MARS combined with GSA could improve the accuracy of the solo MARS model with 1.35%, 11.1%, 2.3%, as well as 1.07%. By contrast, Mp5-MT often demonstrates greater identification capability and more accurate prediction in comparison to MARS-GSA, and it may be regarded as an efficient approach to forecasting the rheological behaviors and compressive strength of SCC in infrastructure practice.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2018

Open-mode cracks could be commonly observed in layered rocks. A concept model is firstly used to explore the mechanism of the vertical cracks (VCs) in the top layer. Then the crack behaviour of the two-layer model is simulated based on a cohesive zone model (CZM) for layer interfaces and a plastic-damage model for rocks. The model indicates that the tensile stress normal to the VCs changes to compression if the crack spacing to layer thickness ratio is lower than a threshold. The results indicate that there is a threshold for interfacial shear strength that controls the crack patterns of the layered system. If the shear strength is lower than the threshold, the top layer is meshed by the VCs and interfacial cracks (ICs). When the shear strength is higher than the threshold, the top layer is meshed by the VCs and parallel cracks (PCs). If the shear strength is comparative to the threshold, a combining pattern of VCs, PCs and ICs for the top layer can be formed. The evolutions of stress distribution in the crack-bound block indicate that the ICs and PCs can reduce the load transferred for the substrate layer, and thus leads to a crack saturation state.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2018

Artificial neural network models can be successfully used to simulate the complex behavior of many problems in civil engineering. As compared to conventional computational methods, this popular modeling technique is powerful when the relationship between system parameters is intrinsically nonlinear, or cannot be explicitly identified, as in the case of concrete behavior. In this investigation, an artificial neural network model was developed to assess the residual compressive strength of self-compacted concrete at elevated temperatures ($20-900^{\circ}C$) and various relative humidity conditions (28-99%). A total of 332 experimental datasets, collected from available literature, were used for model calibration and verification. Data used in model development incorporated concrete ingredients, filler and fiber types, and environmental conditions. Based on the feed-forward back propagation algorithm, systematic analyses were performed to improve the accuracy of prediction and determine the most appropriate network topology. Training, testing, and validation results indicated that residual compressive strength of self-compacted concrete, exposed to high temperatures and relative humidity levels, could be estimated precisely with the suggested model. As illustrated by statistical indices, the reliability between experimental and predicted results was excellent. With new ingredients and different environmental conditions, the proposed model is an efficient approach to estimate the residual compressive strength of self-compacted concrete as a substitute for sophisticated laboratory procedures.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.489-512
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• 2021

In this study, two powerful techniques, namely particle swarm optimization (PSO) and imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA) were selected and combined with a pre-developed ANN model aiming at improving its performance prediction of the compressive strength of concrete modified with fly ash. To achieve this study's aims, a comprehensive database with 379 data samples was collected from the available literature. The output of the database is the compressive strength (CS) of concrete samples, which are influenced by 9 parameters as model inputs, namely those related to mix composition. The modeling steps related to ICA-ANN (or neuro-imperialism) and PSO-ANN (or neuro-swarm) were conducted through the use of several parametric studies to design the most influential parameters on these hybrid models. A comparison of the CS values predicted by hybrid intelligence techniques with the experimental CS values confirmed that the neuro-swarm model could provide a higher degree of accuracy than another proposed hybrid model (i.e., neuro-imperialism). The train and test correlation coefficient values of (0.9042 and 0.9137) and (0.8383 and 0.8777) for neuro-swarm and neuro-imperialism models, respectively revealed that although both techniques are capable enough in prediction tasks, the developed neuro-swarm model can be considered as a better alternative technique in mapping the concrete strength behavior.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.6D
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• pp.599-605
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• 2012

It is important to decide traffic opening time for construction plan of epoxy asphalt pavement. For this purpose, strength prediction model of epoxy asphalt concrete is required. In this study, Marshall stability was measured according to temperature and time for making strength properties equation. Strength prediction model was developed using chemical kinetics considering temperature variation. The traffic opening time of epoxy asphalt pavement on bridge deck has been predicted using the developed model. The prediction and actual traffic opening times were different by 17-days, because weathers of year 2009-2011 used in prediction model were different from weather of year 2012. When the prediction model used the actually measured temperatures of pavement, the difference between real opening time and prediction opening time was two days. The correlation analysis result between measured strength and prediction strength revealed that the $R^2$ using accurate temperature of pavement was 0.95. An improved precise prediction result is to be obtained if the prediction model uses accurate temperature data of pavement.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.155-158
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• 1999

This paper discusses the validity of models to predict the compressive strength of concrete subjected to various temperature histories and the shortcomings of existing rate constant model and apparent activation energy concept. Based on the discussion, a modified rate constant model is proposed. The modified rate constant model, in which apparent activation energy is a nonlinear function of curing temperature and age, accurately estimates the development of the experimental compressive strengths by a few researches. Also, the apparent activation energy of concrete cured with high temperature decreases rapidly with age, but that cured with low temperature decreases gradually with age. Finally a generalized model to predict apparent activation energy and compressive strength is proposed, which is based on the regression results.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2021.11a
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• pp.101-102
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• 2021

The compressive strength of concrete is greatly affected by the temperature inside the concrete at the initial age immediately after pouring. The apparent activation energy of cement and the setting time of concrete are major factors influencing the development of compressive strength of concrete. This study measured the apparent activation energy and setting time according to the change in W/B for each mixing rate of Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag (GGBFS). And after calculating the compressive strength prediction model, the accuracy of the prediction model was evaluated by comparing the predicted compressive strength and the compressive strength.