Abstract
In this study, a two-layer feed-forward neural network was constructed and applied to determine a mapping associating mix design and testing factors of cement–nano silica (NS)–rice husk ash ternary blended concrete samples with their performance in conductance to the water absorption properties. To generate data for the neural network model (NNM), a total of 174 field cores from 58 different mixes at three ages were tested in the laboratory for each of percentage, velocity and coefficient of water absorption and mix volumetric properties. The significant factors (six items) that affect the permeability properties of ternary blended concrete were identified by experimental studies which were: (1) percentage of cement; (2) content of rice husk ash; (3) percentage of 15 nm of SiO2 particles; (4) content of NS particles with average size of 80 nm; (5) effect of curing medium and (6) curing time. The mentioned significant factors were then used to define the domain of a neural network which was trained based on the Levenberg–Marquardt back propagation algorithm using Matlab software. Excellent agreement was observed between simulation and laboratory data. It is believed that the novel developed NNM with three outputs will be a useful tool in the study of the permeability properties of ternary blended concrete and its maintenance.
Highlights
Concrete is a man-made material produced by the proper mixing of cement, coarse aggregate, fine aggregate plus an adequate and controlled amount of water
The percentage of water absorption of concrete samples immersed in water or saturated lime water was decreased with increasing the age of moist curing from 7 to 90 days for all five series during the hardening process of the concrete
Since curing in water results in finishing Ca(OH)2 (Naji Givi et al 2010a; b) and no more C–S–H gel was formed, the increase in water absorption which is related to the increase in the amount of rice husk ash (RHA) could be resulted from the reduced amount of Ordinary Portland cement (OPC)
Summary
Concrete is a man-made material produced by the proper mixing of cement, coarse aggregate, fine aggregate plus an adequate and controlled amount of water. It is the most consumed worldwide material after water due to its extensive usage in most of structural applications. Utilization of mineral or artificial waste materials in concrete can give an efficient solution to disposal difficulty, sustainable development and moderating the cost of concrete structures. Experience has revealed that by controlling some factors of the fresh concrete, such as the amount of cement, the water/cement ratios, dosage of admixtures in particular. Concrete mix design involves complex issues, and the accurate ways of performing its design can be achieved with expert information and experience (Yeh et al 1993)
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