Hybrid Artificial Neural Network and Genetic Algorithm

Model for Multi-Objective Strength Optimization of

Concrete with Surkhi and Buntal Fiber
Dante L. Silva Kevin Lawrence M. de Jesus Bernard S. Villaverde
Mapua University Mapua University Mapua University
658 Muralla St., Intramuros, 658 Muralla St., Intramuros, 658 Muralla St., Intramuros,
Manila, Philippines, 1002 Manila, Philippines, 1002 Manila, Philippines, 1002
+63 917 895 1267 +63 905 462 7660 +63 915 404 0455
dantesilva2000@yahoo.com kevinlawrencedejesus@gmail.com bsvillaverde@mapua.edu.ph
Edgar M. Adina
Mapua University
658 Muralla St., Intramuros,
Manila, Philippines, 1002
+63 917 805 6541
emadina@mapua.edu.ph
ABSTRACT methodologies➝Distributed algorithms➝Self-organization
Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) is one of the efficient
innovation in concrete industry that has the ability to enhance
the mechanical properties significantly. To cope up with the
Keywords
increase in infrastructural activities which resulted in greater Surkhi, Buntal Fiber, Artificial Neural Network, Multi-
demand in production of different construction materials have a Objective Genetic Algorithm, Fuzzy-Inference System, Multi-
negative impact on the environment, this study aims to Linear Regression Analysis
determine the mechanical performance of the optimum
compressive and flexural strength of buntal fiber-reinforced
1. INTRODUCTION
Rapid industrialization and urbanization caused a sudden boom
concrete with surkhi as partial replacement for sand (BFRC-SS).
in the construction industry in the Philippines. These resulted to
Using 28th-day compressive and flexural strength, several
an increase in infrastructure activities which resulted in greater
mixtures were experimentally tested to derive a mix proportion
demand in production of different construction materials which
that gave the best mechanical properties of BFRC-SS. From the
had a negative impact in the environment. Many waste materials
results, best hybrid models of compressive and flexural strength
have been used in the construction example of these materials
were formulated using Artificial Neural Network (ANN).
are, sawdust, steel slags, fly ash, volcanic ash, etc. [1]. Since
Results showed that ANN was able to establish the effects of
sand is the most commonly used material as fine aggregate in
surkhi and buntal (Corypha utan Lam) fiber to the mechanical
concrete and mortars, there are shortages of sand in many areas.
properties of BFRC-SS. Furthermore, the multi-objective
This calls for researchers to investigate with many different
Genetic Algorithm (GA) model generated the optimum
materials such as crushed stone dust, marble powder, surkhi and
proportion for the best compressive and flexural strength. Fuzzy
other materials that are high in production in their local areas. In
Inference System (FIS) and Multi-Linear Regression Analysis
addition, fiber-reinforced concrete focuses in the development of
(MLRA) were also utilized to assess and validate the hybrid
concrete industry to deliver better performance and
model through surface imaging. Utilizing least percent error,
sustainability of concrete-based structures. Buri (Corypha utan
ANN hybrid model showed the most significant predictive
Lam.) of the family Arecaceae is one of the most abundant
model compared to other models generated by MLRA and FIS.
palms in the Philippines. It has many uses and is considered to
This study adoptied the fusion of 4.0 Industrial Revolution and
be the third of the most important palm in the country, after
favoring creativity and integrity through artificial intelligence.
coconut and nipa palm [2].

CCS Concepts Several studies were performed to determine the constitutive

Computing methodologies➝Distributed computing
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relationship of surkhi and buntal fiber to the mechanical
properties (i.e. compressive and flexural strength) of concrete. A
study performed a compressive strength test, it can be concluded
from the results that substituting sand with surkhi increases the
compressive strength of the concrete brick [1]. Another study
conducted an experimental study on the performance of Surkhi
concrete and concluded that 20% surkhi replacement has the
strongest mix [3]. An experimental research was conducted and
carried out to assess the compressive strength of high strength
performance concrete with surkhi as replaced 100% by weight
of sand and conclude that the compressive strength of the
concrete relatively improved in comparison to the reference
concrete made with sand [4]. An experimental investigation on
fan palm fiber was conducted at 28-th day compressive strength,

47
the concrete is weaker by 6 to 20% [5]. However, the fibers
showed a rise in flexural strength of concrete varying its
improvement depending on the parameters. for Grade 30MPa
and 40MPa, there are significant improvements resulting to an
increase in the flexural strength between 10 to 20%.
There are different types of approach to be used in constructing
mathematical models. Each type of model has different
characteristics and application depending on the datasets
gathered. However, studies showed that artificial intelligence
hybrid models have significantly give the best results. Artificial
Neural Network (ANN) has been utilized in several concrete-
involved studies forecasting the strength of concrete in
compression. Other concrete related issues addressed with ANN
are high strength concrete, self-compacting, lightweight, self-
stressing, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) confined, Sulfate
resistance, admixtures, and exposure of concrete to high
temperatures [6] [7]. A study has been utilized ANN to analyze
the compressive strength of self-compacting concrete containing
bottom ash [8]. Likewise, another study used artificial neural
networks and genetic algorithm in self-compacting concrete to
optimize its fresh and mechanical concrete properties [9]. Also,
another research employed ANN in environmentally friendly
concrete to predict the compressive strength [10]. A study stated
that ANN has been one of the useful modelling tools for
prediction of concrete properties, including compressive and
flexural strength [11]. Also, a study used ANN in modelling
properties of steel fiber reinforced concrete to compare training
algorithms, such as gradient descent backpropagation algorithm
and GA [12]. Moreover, a research concluded that the flexural
strength estimation of the fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)
wrapped column was done using the combined artificial neural
network (CANNs) model [13].
The objective of this study is to develop and validate a hybrid
Levenberg-Marquardt artificial neural network model and utilize
genetic algorithm for the multi-objective strength optimization
of concrete with surkhi and corypha utan lam fiber. The paper
likewise aims to determine the characteristics of the parameters
and simulate also the surface roughness utilizing fuzzy logic
analysis.
2. METHODOLOGY
This research exhibited has characteristic of data which were
both descriptive qualitative and applied qualitative, and the
methodological process was derived from the review of related
literatures. This study formulated compressive and flexural
strength models using ANN and GA to determine the best
mixing proportion to maximize the mechanical properties of
concrete, determined the significant bond between material
concrete components and mechanical properties of concrete
using parametric studies, and developed a software based on the
formulated ANN models.
2.1 Research and Experimental Program
In this phase, a number of steps must be carefully followed;
gathering information and data from various literatures;
Standard data and testing methods from ACI and ASTM; and
the development of the testing program and experimental design.
In this research, compressive strength and flexural strength are
the parameters to be determined in this research. The percentage
of fibers that will be added to the concrete are 0%, 0.25%, 0.5%,
0.75%, 1%, 1.25%, and 1.5% by weight. The percentage of sand
to be replaced by surkhi are 0%, 15%, 25% and 30% by weight.
48
2.2 Creation of ANN Models
The MATLAB software has a neural network toolbox that was
used in generating the compressive and flexural strength models.
The Artificial Neural Network Model uses 3 parameters in
generating its models namely; training algorithm (TA), transfer
function (TF), and selection of number of hidden neurons (#HN).
To determine the best parameters, we have to create several
simulations of each parameter to determine which parameters
will give us the most accurate results. The performance measure
of the different parameters during three parameters (i.e. training,
testing and validation) utilized regression coefficient (R) and
mean squared error (MSE).
2.3 Derivations of Combined Compressive-
Flexural Strength Equations
This study utilized the derived values of weight and biases
generated from MATLAB. Weights and biases are values when
neurons from input, hidden and output layers formulate bonds
from one neuron from player to another neuron from another
layer. Using the final normalized compressive and flexural
strength values, we obtained the final compressive and flexural
strength equation.
2.4 Multi – Objective Optimization of
Results utilizing Genetic Algorithm
Genetic Algorithm (GA) is a repetitive process that optimizes
sets of data to be generated on continuous simulations to provide
better solutions for solving optimization problems. This study
aims to determine the best optimum mix of surkhi and buntal
fiber using GA operators as optimal solutions or GA models
(refer Table I) that will yield to a high compressive and flexural
strength of BFRC-SS.
This study allowed us to choose what we want to minimize or
maximize and the standard convention is to maximize a function
using GA. In this study, we also set the targeted function and
constraints of optimization problem expressed as follow:
Maximize: f’c = f (SN, BFN) (1)
fb = f (SN, BFN) (2)
Constraints: 0% ≤ SN ≤ 30% (3)
0% ≤ BFN ≤ 1.5% (4)
where f’c = function of compressive strength (MPa)
fb = function of flexural strength (MPa)
SN = normalize value of surkhi
BFN = normalized value of buntal
Table 1. Specifications of GA Operator
GA Operator Specifications
Stochastic Uniform (SU),
Selection
Tournament Method (TM)
Mutation Adaptive Feasible (AF)
Scattered (S), One – Point (OP),
Crossover
Two – Point (TP), Intermediate (I)
2.5 Assessment and Validation of Hybrid
Models
In this phase, the researchers assessed and validated the ANN
models by conducting a comparison between the ANN model to
the Multi-Linear Regression Analysis model and the Fuzzy-
Interference System.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Experimental Program
After 28 days of curing, the results showed the corresponding
effect in compressive and flexural strength of BFRC-SS. In the
results, both compressive and flexural strength demonstrate a
positive relationship with the concrete, thus they enhance the
mechanical properties of BFRC-SS. These values will be used in
ANN modeling. Figure 1 and 2 presents the results of the
compressive strength and flexural strength test of varying
amounts of Surkhi and Buntal Fibers.
Figure 3. Design of the ANN Model
3.2 Artificial Neural Network Simulations ANN model consists of three stages: training, validation and
There were series of simulations that were generated for each testing which utilized 70%, 15% and 15% of data respectively.
parameter for Training Algorithm (TA), Transfer Function (TF) Significantly, compressive- flexural strength model yielded the
and Number of Hidden Neurons (HN). First, TF and HN were highest overall R-values of 0.98843 compared to compressive
set as constant with varying training algorithm. Second, and flexural strength model thus Regression plots shown in
obtaining the best TA, we generate varying TF and HN still Figure 4 and MSE performance plot were illustrated in Figure 5.
remained constant. Lastly, simulations for the best HN were
generated utilizing the obtained best TF and TA. The best ANN
topologies shown in Figure 4 obtained based on the regression
coefficient (R), mean squared error (MSE) and Mean Absolute 3.3 Genetic Algorithm Simulations
Percentage Error (MAPE) thus they provided satisfactory results Obtaining the best ANN topology for each model, applicability
as shown in figure 4 and 5. of GA for multi-objective optimization was utilized in this study
to solve problems involving the mechanical properties of BFRC-
SS. For multi-objective optimization, it can be noted that all
Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimal solutions except for Stochastic
Uniform (SU) model yielded to a single best combination of
surkhi and buntal fiber with a compressive strength and flexural
strength of 19.2981 MPa and 3.5718 MPa, respectively as
shown in Table 2. SU model is not available in the Multi-
Objective Genetic Algorithm Optimization.
Table 2. Results of Multi – Objective Optimization for
Maximum Compressive and Flexural Strength
Input Variables Maxi-
Maxi-
mum
mum
No. of Flexural
GA Compre-
Figure 1. Flexural Strength Test Results SN BFN Gene- Strength
Model ssive
(%) (%) ration ,
Strength,
fb
f’c (MPa)
(MPa)
SU-
AF-S
SU-
AF-OP Stochastic Uniform (SU) Model is only applicable for
SU- single-optimization and not capable of multi-optimization
AF-TP
SU-
AF-I
TM- 0.666 0.399
102 19.2981 3.5718
AF-S (24.99) (1.049)
TM- 0.666 0.399
102 19.2981 3.5718
AF-OP (24.99) (1.049)
TM- 0.666 0.399
Figure 2. Compressive Strength Test Results AF-TP (24.99) (1.049)
102 19.2981 3.5718
. TM- 0.666 0.399
102 19.2981 3.5718
Levenberg – Marquardt backpropagation was proven in the AF-I (24.99) (1.049)
studies to be used as training algorithm for most concrete related
datasets and tansig function was proven to be the best transfer
function since it is capable to handle input and output
parameters into different non-linear dimensions. The design of
the architecture of the ANN model is presented in figure 3.

49
 Figure 6. Results of TM-AF-S GA Model

Figure 4. Regression Plots of the Governing Hybrid

Model

Figure 7. Results of TM-AF-OP GA Model

Figure 5. Performance of the Governing Hybrid Model

Stochastic Uniform (SU) model is not available in the Multi
Objective GA Optimization. No pareto front is derived in the
present multi-objective optimization problem because of the
limited constraints wherein only single optimal solution is
derived in the problem. Figures 6 to 9 presents the graphical
results of the GA simulations including Tournament Method-
Adaptive Feasible-Scattered (TM-AF-S) model, Tournament
Method-Adaptive Feasbile-One Point (TM-AF-OP) model,
Tournament Method-Adaptive Feasible-Two Point (TM-AF-TP)
model and Tournament Method-Adaptive Feasible-Intermediate
(TM-AF-I) model.

Figure 8. Results of TM-AF-TP GA Model

50

Figure 9. Results of TM-AF-I GA Model
The multi – objective GA optimization yields with a Surkhi
percentage and Buntal Fiber percentage value of 24.99% and
1.049%, respectively.
3.4 Validation of Results utilizing MLRA
and FIS
For assessment and validation of hybrid models, another models
were generated utilizing Multi-Linear Regression Analysis
(MLRA) and Fuzzy-Inference System (FIS). Based on the
percent errors of compressive strength, it shows that the models
of ANN and FIS is similar to the experimental results as it
obtains an average percentage error of 6.74% and 8.06%
respectively.
On the other hand, the model of MLR cannot be considered as a
good model for this research due to its high average percentage
error of 20.58%. For flexural strength analysis, MLR displayed a
lower percentage error of 12.46% as compared to compressive
strength. However, it can be seen that the best model is ANN
followed by FIS with a percentage error of 6.31% and 8.39%,
respectively. Table 3 presents the comparison between Artificial
Neural Network, Multiple Linear Regression and Fuzzy
Inference System.
Table 3. Comparison between ANN, MLR and FIS
Model ANN MLR FIS
Compressive 6.74% 20.85% 8.06%
Flexural 6.31% 12.46% 8.39%
4. CONCLUSION
From the experimental testing, it was concluded that surkhi and
buntal have positive association with the compressive and
flexural strength of concrete.
After series of experimental simulations utilizing hybrid neural
network-genetic algorithm model, it was concluded that
developed hybrid model was able to provide significant and
satisfactory predicted results and agreed by high R-values and
MSE. Moreover, under constraints requirements, optimal mix
proportions of input variables for multi-output analysis of
compressive and flexural strength were also derived yielding to
corresponding maximum output values.
51
Multiple linear regression models and fuzzy logic models were
generated to assess the behavior of BFRC-SS. Thus, the present
study found that ANN model is the best approach for
compressive and flexural strength of BFRC-SS.
5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The researchers would like to expresses their utmost gratitude to
Mapua University for providing support for the completion of
this paper.
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