Application of a Hybrid Artificial Neural Network-Particle Swarm Optimization (ANN-PSO) Model in Behavior Prediction of Channel Shear Connectors Embedded in Normal and High-Strength Concrete

Mahdi Shariati,Hoang Nguyen,Musab N A Salih,Mohammad Saeed Mafipour,Peyman Mehrabi,Alireza Bahadori,Jie Dou,Shek Poi-Ngian,Xuan Song,Yousef Zandi

doi:10.3390/app9245534

Abstract

Channel shear connectors are known as an appropriate alternative for common shear connectors due to having a lower manufacturing cost and an easier installation process. The behavior of channel connectors is generally determined through conducting experiments. However, these experiments are not only costly but also time-consuming. Moreover, the impact of other parameters cannot be easily seen in the behavior of the connectors. This paper aims to investigate the application of a hybrid artificial neural network–particle swarm optimization (ANN-PSO) model in the behavior prediction of channel connectors embedded in normal and high-strength concrete (HSC). To generate the required data, an experimental project was conducted. Dimensions of the channel connectors and the compressive strength of concrete were adopted as the inputs of the model, and load and slip were predicted as the outputs. To evaluate the ANN-PSO model, an ANN model was also developed and tuned by a backpropagation (BP) learning algorithm. The results of the paper revealed that an ANN model could properly predict the behavior of channel connectors and eliminate the need for conducting costly experiments to some extent. In addition, in this case, the ANN-PSO model showed better performance than the ANN-BP model by resulting in superior performance indices.

Highlights

Composite systems have always been of interest as they benefit from the combined properties of different materials simultaneously
The first mode of failure is knowntests as channel fractureclassified with cracks concrete
Channel fracture with cracks in concrete blocks, blocks, and the second one is of referred concrete and the second one is referred to as concrete crushing–splitting

Summary

Introduction

Composite systems have always been of interest as they benefit from the combined properties of different materials simultaneously. Shear connectors are mainly used in steel–concrete composite systems to establish a connection through which the developed shear forces at the interface of the materials can be collected and transferred [1,2]. In composite beams with partial interaction, a specific number of shear connectors are employed along the length of beams, and these connectors primarily control the behavior of the beams under different loading conditions [3,4]. In steel–concrete composite columns, shear connectors have the principal task in unifying the materials and converting them to a single unit [8]. The proper performance of composite systems largely depends on the behavior of shear connectors

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