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DESIGN OF CONCRETE MIXES USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS

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 The 2nd Regional . Conf. for Eng. Sci. /College. of Eng. / Al-Nahrain University /1-2/12/2010

DESIGN OF CONCRETE MIXES USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL

NETWORKS
salim taib yousif
Assistant Professor
Civil Eng. Dept.
Mosul University – Iraq
Styousif59112@yahoo.com
majid ali thaher
Assistant Lecturer
Water resources Eng. Dept.
Mosul University – Iraq
majid_teba1@yahoo.com
omar mohammed abdulkareem
Assistant Lecturer
Civil Eng. Dept.
Mosul University – Iraq
omaralhakeem@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
The artificial neural network modeled to prediction the mix proportion of concrete mixes
were built in this study. The input parameters were slump, percentage of fine aggregate from total
aggregate content, fineness modulus of fine aggregate, max aggregate size of coarse aggregate
and compressive strength, while the output were cement, sand, gravel, and water contents. The
proposed concrete mix proportion design algorithm is expected to reduce the number of trial and
error, save cost, laborers and time. The system was trained and tested using 493 mixes chosen
from the local data, 443 of them used for training while 50 mixes used for testing, results indicate
that the mix proportion can be predicted accurately by using the artificial neural network method
compared to experimental local mixes.

Key words : Concrete , Mix proportion , Neural Network.

: ‫اﻟﻣﺳﺗﺧﻠص‬

‫إذ ﺷﻣﻠت‬، ‫ﻓﻲ ﻫذﻩ اﻟدراﺳﺔ ﺗم ﺑﻧﺎء ﻧﻣوذج ﻣن اﻟﺷﺑﻛﺎت اﻟﻌﺻﺑﯾﺔ اﻻﺻطﻧﺎﻋﯾﺔ ﻟﻠﺗﻧﺑؤ ﺑﻧﺳب اﻟﺧﻠطﺎت اﻟﺧرﺳﺎﻧﯾﺔ‬
‫ اﻟﻣﻘﺎس اﻷﻗﺻﻰ‬، ‫ ﻣﻌﺎﻣل اﻟﻧﻌوﻣﺔ ﻟﻠرﻛﺎم اﻟﻧﺎﻋم‬، ‫ ﻧﺳﺑﺔ اﻟرﻛﺎم اﻟﻧﺎﻋم ﻣن ﻣﺣﺗوى اﻟرﻛﺎم اﻟﻛﻠﻲ‬، ‫اﻟﻣدﺧﻼت ﻛل ﻣن اﻟﻬطول‬
‫ إن‬.‫ اﻟﺣﺻﻰ و اﻟﻣﺎء‬، ‫ اﻟرﻣل‬، ‫ ﺑﯾﻧﻣﺎ ﻛﺎﻧت اﻟﻣﺧرﺟﺎت ﺗﺷﻣل ﻣﺣﺗوى ﻛل ﻣن اﻻﺳﻣﻧت‬،‫ﻟﻠرﻛﺎم اﻟﺧﺷن وﻣﻘﺎوﻣﺔ اﻻﻧﺿﻐﺎط‬
‫ ﻟﻘد‬. ‫طرﯾﻘﺔ ﺗﺻﻣﯾم اﻟﻣزﺟﺎت اﻟﺧرﺳﺎﻧﯾﺔ اﻟﻣﻘﺗرﺣﺔ ﻣن اﻟﻣﺗوﻗﻊ أن ﺗﺧﻔض ﻋدد ﺣﺎﻻت اﻟﻣﺣﺎوﻟﺔ واﻟﺧطﺄ وﺗوﻓر اﻟوﻗت واﻟﻌﻣﺎل‬
‫ ﻣزﺟﺔ اﺳﺗﺧدﻣت ﻟﻠﺗدرﯾب ﺑﯾﻧﻣﺎ اﺳﺗﺧدﻣت‬443 ، ‫ ﻣزﺟﺔ اﺧﺗﯾرت ﻣن اﻟﺑﯾﺎﻧﺎت اﻟﻣﺣﻠﯾﺔ‬493 ‫درب ﻫذا اﻟﻧظﺎم وأﺧﺗﺑر ﺑﺎﺳﺗﺧدام‬
‫ ﺗﺷﯾر اﻟﻧﺗﺎﺋﺞ ﺑﺄﻧﻪ ﯾﻣﻛن اﻟﺗﻧﺑؤ ﺑدﻗﺔ ﻋﺎﻟﯾﺔ ﺑﻧﺳب اﻟﻣزﺟﺎت اﻟﺧرﺳﺎﻧﯾﺔ ﺑﺎﺳﺗﻌﻣﺎل طرﯾﻘﺔ اﻟﺷﺑﻛﺎت‬. ‫ ﻣزﺟﺔ ﻟﻼﺧﺗﺑﺎر‬50
. ‫اﻟﻌﺻﺑﯾﺔ اﻻﺻطﻧﺎﻋﯾﺔ اﻟﺗﻲ ﺗم ﻣﻘﺎرﻧﺗﻬﺎ ﻣﻊ اﻟﻣزﺟﺎت اﻟﺗﺟرﯾﺑﯾﺔ اﻟﻣﺣﻠﯾﺔ‬

449
 The 2nd Regional . Conf. for Eng. Sci. /College. of Eng. / Al-Nahrain University /1-2/12/2010
INTRODUCTION
Mixture proportioning refers to the
process of determining the quantities of
concrete ingredient, to achieve the specified
characteristics of the concrete. A properly
proportioned concrete mix should possess
these quantities [1]:
· Acceptable workability of the
freshly mixed concrete.
· Durability, strength, and the
uniform. appearance of the hardened
concrete
· Economy [1].
In order to achieve these characteristics,
the engineer must determine the proportion
of cement, water, fine, and coarse
aggregates, and use of admixtures.
Understanding the basic principle of mix
design is as important as the actual
calculation used to establish mix
proportions. Only with proper selection of
materials and mixture characteristics can the
above quality be obtained in concrete
construction[1]. Before a concrete mixture
can be proportioned, mixture characteristics
are selected based on the intended used of
the concrete, the exposure condition, the
size and the shape of building elements, and
the physical properties of the concrete (such
as frost resistance and strength) required for
the structures[1]. Designers generally specify
or assumed a certain strength or modulus of
elasticity of the concrete when determining
structural dimensions. The Engineer is
responsible for assuring the concrete
properly proportioned, mixed, placed and
cured to have properties specified by the
designer. The proportioning of the concrete
mix affects its properties in both fresh and
hardened states. During the plastic state, the
engineer is concerned with the important
properties such as the strength , modulus of
elasticity, durability , and porosity [2]. Others
factors, such as effects of hardening,
450
transporting, delay in placing , and weather
conditions may also influence the properties
of concrete on the site but these are
generally secondary and necessitate no more
than minor adjustments in the mix
proportions during the progress of work [3] .
Because of many assumptions and
estimations underlying the theoretical
calculations, the mix proportions for the
actual ingredients to be used do not provide
the correct answer. Therefore, the properties
of these mixes are checked and adjusted by
means of laboratory trial mixes and tests
until a fully satisfactory mix is obtained [4].
Many obscure factors influence concrete
mix proportioning, and their mutual
relationship is so complicated that it is
impossible to formulate mathematical
models to express their mutual actions and
reactions. Adjustments are always
performed by taking into account the
information from the concrete quality
control tests, the experts’ advice,
experiences, and other available research,
but the final mix proportions through the
adjustments are still statistical, containing
uncertainties and various errors. However, it
is still impossible to avoid the personal,
physical, and mechanical errors and
uncertainties that are encountered in
materials, testing environments,
constructing environments, and other factors
such as transporting, delay in placing, and
weather conditions [4] .
The objective of this paper is to discuss the
development of the artificial neural network
techniques for proportioning of concrete
mixes as an effective tool to minimize the
error that are avoidable in concrete mix
proportioning and adjustment.
NEURAL NETWORKS
An artificial neural network, in short, a
neural network, inspired by a neuronal
 The 2nd Regional . Conf. for Eng. Sci. /College. of Eng. / Al-Nahrain University /1-2/12/2010
structure and operation of the biological
brain, appeared for the first time in the
1940s (McCulloch and Pitts, 1943), but only
in the past few years have neural networks
emerged as a new practical alternative to do
mainly with pattern recognition in many
fields (Nelson et al., 1991).
A neural network is a network of many
simple processors that are called units,
nodes, or neurons. Each of the units has a
small amount of local memory. The units
are connected by communication channels
that are called connections; each usually
carries numeric data, called strengths or
weights, encoded by any of various means.
The units operate only on their local data
and on the inputs they receive via the
connections. The restriction to local
operations is often relaxed during training
and self organization to solve a problem [5]
Most of the problem solved in civil
engineering using ANN are predicting of
behavior based on given experimental and
theoretical results that are used as training,
testing and verification data . Back –
proportion neural networks ( BPNN) are the
most commonly used type of networks in
civil engineer application where a set of
input parameters are mapped through single
or several hidden layers, using weights, into
output parameters .The relationship between
the input parameters and the output
parameters is usually nonlinear. Although
several activation function are used to
accomplish the mapping process, the
sigmoid function and its variations are the
most widely used activation function in
solving civil engineer problems. The main
benefits in using neural networks approach
are that all of the behavior of the material
can be presented within the unified
environment of neural network, and the NN
based model is build directly from
experimental data using the learning
capability of the neural network.[5]
451
Three important steps must be considered in
construction a successful artificial neural
network, network architectural, training and
testing. The basic aspects of network
architectural consist of number of hidden
layers between the input and output layers,
the number of processing unit in each
layers, the pattern of conductivity among
the processing units, and the activation
(transfer) function employer for each
processing unit. These aspects vary from
one network to another, leading to a wide
variety of network steps [6].
Fig.1, shows a simple architecture of a
back-propagation network that consists of
an input layer, a hidden layer, an output
layer, and connections between them. The
learning mechanism of the back-propagation
network is a generalized delta rule that
performs a gradient-descent on the error
space to minimize the total error between
the calculated values and the desired ones of
the output layer during modification of
connection strengths. Although the training
data contain the various errors and
uncertainties, it is no great matter to train
and generalize the examples. As a matter of
fact, it is reasonable to contain the errors
and uncertainties in training data. Training
is accomplished in an iterative process.
Each iteration cycle, called an epoch,
involved a feed-forward computation
followed by an error-backward propagation
to modify their connection weights. [6]
In recent years, ANNs have shown
exceptional performance as regression tools,
especially when used for pattern recognition
and function estimation. They are highly
nonlinear, and can capture complex
interactions among input/output variables in
a system without any prior knowledge about
the nature of these interactions. The main
advantage of ANNs is that one does not
have to explicitly assume a model form,
which is a prerequisite in the parametric
 The 2nd Regional . Conf. for Eng. Sci. /College. of Eng. / Al-Nahrain University /1-2/12/2010
approach. Indeed, in ANNs a relationship of
possibly complicated shape between input
and output variables is generated by the data
points themselves. In comparison to
parametric methods, ANNs tolerate
relatively imprecise or incomplete data,
approximate results, and are less vulnerable
to outliers. They are highly parallel, that is,
their numerous independent operations can
be executed simultaneously [7]. Due to the
complexity between concrete behaviors and
concrete mix proportions, artificial neural
network techniques have been adopted in
concrete mix proportion design [7].
Neural network modeling technique has
been successfully applied to many structural
engineering problems, such as prediction of
strength of concrete mix [8], simulating
model for optimization in high performance
concrete mix design [9], prediction of
performance of self-compacting concrete
mixtures[10] and else.
The principal aim of this paper is to develop
multi-layered feed-forward neural networks
model for design of concrete mixes.
DATA BASE
For the application of neural networks to
concrete mix proportioning, the
experimental data of concrete mix that made
by local materials only were collected.[11,
12,13,14,15].
A 443 concrete mix made by local
materials which includes ordinary Portland
cement produced by SINJAR and BADOSH
cement factories in accordance with Iraqi
specification (IQS, No.5,1984), sand in
accordance with (BS 882:1983) normally
available in the KANHASH and KHAZER
area, and a rounded river gravel as a locally
available coarse aggregate.
452
Table 1 shows the range of maximum and
minimum values of the parameters that are
used in this study.
NEURAL NETWORKS DESIGN AND
TRAINING
In fact as known that the neural networks
are the powerful tool that is bestowed with
the capability of realizing non linear
functions from examples presented to them.
The power of a trained network is its ability
to recognize not only the examples it has
learned but also outside the training set
within the range of training data [6].
Preparation of data is a necessary
prerequisite to solve problems using ANN
approach. This procedure is crucial to the
success of applying ANN approach. The
performance of neural networks is largely
depending upon the data set it was trained
especially when using the back propagation
network. This is because by selecting those
algorithms, the ANN model will learn from
input and output examples. In general, the
better the training data sets represent the
domain problems to be solved, the better
performance of neural networks. only
someone with domain knowledge and
understand the data sets can select the right
data set to be trained in the neural network
may not be able to give desired output
accurately [6].
In this work a multilayered feed-forward
neural network with a back-propagation
algorithm was adopted. The ANN was
developed using the popular MATLAB
software package [MATLAB R2009b][16].
To train the ANN models, first the entire
experimental data file was randomly divided
into training and testing data sets. The 393
patterns were used to train the different
network architectures. The remaining 50
patterns were used for testing to verify the
prediction ability of each trained ANN
model. The network model was constructed.
 The 2nd Regional . Conf. for Eng. Sci. /College. of Eng. / Al-Nahrain University /1-2/12/2010
The model has five input parameters which
are slump, percentage of fine aggregate
from total aggregate content, fineness
modulus of fine aggregate, maximum
aggregate size of coarse aggregate and
compressive strength, and four output
parameters which are weights in (kg/m3) of
mix components (water, fine aggregate,
coarse aggregate and cement)
The Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) techniques
built in MATLAB proved to be efficient
training functions, and therefore, are used to
construct the ANN model [16]. This training
function is one of the conjugate gradient
algorithms that start training by searching in
the steepest descent direction (negative of
the gradient) on the first iteration.
The LM algorithm is known to be
significantly faster than the more traditional
gradient descent type algorithms for training
neural networks. It is, in fact, mentioned as
the fastest method for training moderately
sized feed-forward neural network [5]. While
each iteration of the LM algorithm tends to
take longer than of the other gradient
descent algorithms, the LM algorithm yields
far better results using far less iteration,
leading to a net saving in computer
processor time over the other methods. One
concern, however, is that it may over fit the
data. The network should be trained to
recognize general characteristics rather than
variations specific to the data set used for
training.
Since the sigmoid function is used as
transfer function, the inputs as well as the
output are scaled in the range of (0.1–0.9).
The scaling of the training data sets was
carried out using the following equation:
y = (0.8 / D) x + (0.9 - 0.8 xmax / D) (1)
Where D = x max - x min
453
It should be noted that any new input data
should be scaled before being presented to
the network and the corresponding predicted
values should be un-scaled before use.
The convergence of the models in training is
based on minimizing the error of tolerance
for mean squared error (MSE) during the
training cycles and monitoring the overall
the performance of the trained networks by
comparing the outputs. The architecture of
the developed ANN model and its
Properties are shown in Table 2.
Table 3, shows the inputs of test data while
the Table 4. shows the actual tested
ingredient of mix contents corresponding to
ANN predicted values, the maximum errors
for 50 test results were about 20% in the
other hand it can be seen that 92% of the
output results has errors less than 10%. The
performance of a trained network can be
measured to some extent by the errors on
the training sets, but it is often useful to
investigate the network response in more
detail. One option is to perform a regression
analysis between the network response and
the corresponding targets and finding a
correlation coefficient. It is a measure of
how well the variation in output is explained
by the targets. If this number is equal to 1,
then there is perfect correlation between
targets and outputs predictions. Fig. 2 shows
a plot of experimental water, fine aggregate,
coarse aggregate and cement content against
corresponding ANN predications. A linear
correlation can be observed and the
correlation coefficient was found to be
0.908, 0.990, 0.980 and 0.954 respectively
thus it can be concluded that the model
successively predicted the concrete mix
contents in good manner.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated the utility and
reliability of the artificial neural networks
(ANN) for modeling the concrete mix
 The 2nd Regional . Conf. for Eng. Sci. /College. of Eng. / Al-Nahrain University /1-2/12/2010
proportioning. The model could be useful in
reducing the number of trial mixes and in
reducing labor, financial expenditure, and
time. The results indicate that the mix
proportion can be predicted accurately by
using the ANN method compared to
experimental local mixes. The application of
artificial intelligence in the field of mix
design is very appropriate in order to
preserve and disseminate valuable
experience and innovation efficiently at
reasonable cost.
REFERENCE
1. S. H. Kosmatka, B. Kerkhoff, and W. C.
Panarese, Design and Control of Concrete
Mixtures. USA: Portland Cement
Association, 2003, pp.351.
2. M. S. Mamlouk and J. P. Zaniewski,
Materials for Civil and Construction
Engineers. USA: Addison Wesley
Longman, 1999, pp.388.
3. A.M. Neville, Properties of Concrete.
London: Pitman Publishing LTD, 1975,
pp.840.
4. J.W. Oh, I.W. Lee, , J.T. Kim, and G.W.
Lee, "Application of Neural Networks for
Proportioning of Concrete Mixes", ACI
Materials Journal., Vol. 96, No.1, pp.60-
68,1999.
5. S. Haykin, Neural Networks a
Comprehensive Foundation. New Jersey:
Prentice Hall, 1999, pp.842.
Different Mix Design Methods, M.Sc.
thesis, College of Engineering, Mosul
University, Iraq, 1987, pp.171.
13. G.H. Alallou, Optimization of Fine
Content in Concrete and its Effects on
Strength and Cost, M.Sc. thesis, College of
454
6. S. T. Yousif, Artificial Neural Network
Modeling of Elasto-Plastic Plates, Ph.D
thesis, College of Engineering, Mosul
University, Iraq, 2007, pp.198.
7. R. D. Vanluchene, and R. Sun, "Neural
Networks in Structural Engineering",
Microcomputer in Civil. Engineering,Vol.5,
pp. 207-215, 1990.
8. S. T. Yousif, and S. M. Abdullah,
"Artificial Neural Networks Model for
Predicting Compressive Strength of
Concrete", Tikrit Journal of Eng. Sciences
,Vol.16 , No.3, pp.55 - 63, 2009.
9. M. Jamil, M. F. M. Zain, and H. B.
Basri, "Neural Network Simulator Model
for Optimization in High Performance
Concrete Mix Design ", European Journal of
Scientific Research, Vol.34, No. 1, pp. 61-
68, 2009.
10. M. Nehdi, H. El Chabib, and M. H. El
Naggar, "Predicting Performance of self-
Compacting Concrete Mixtures Using
Artificial Neural Networks ", ACI Materials
Journal, Vol.98, No.5, pp. 394-401, 2001.
11. S.Y. Othman, Comparison Between
Different Mix Design Method on Some
Properties of Concrete Using Local
Aggregates, M.Sc. thesis, College of
Engineering, Mosul University, Iraq, 1986,
pp.174.
12 . S.T. Yousif , Shrinkage Characteristics
of Different Concrete Mixes Based on
Engineering, Mosul University, Iraq, 1989,
pp.123.
14. S. Y. Kashmola, Prediction of 28 –Day
Strength of Concrete Using the Acceleration
Strength Test, M.Sc. thesis, College of
 The 2nd Regional . Conf. for Eng. Sci. /College. of Eng. / Al-Nahrain University /1-2/12/2010

Engineering, Mosul University, Iraq, 1999, 16. The math works, MATLAB R2009b, 24
pp.96. Prime way, Natick, MA 01760-1500, USA,
2009.
15. M. H. Al Jader, Graphical Method of
Concrete Mix Design, M.Sc. thesis,
College of Engineering, Mosul University,
Iraq, 2007, pp.105.

Table 1: The range of the data used in the study

Minimum Maximum
Slump (mm) 0.00 205.00
Fine Agg.(%) 25.00 62.90
Fine Modulus 2.10 3.070
Max agg. Size (mm) 12.70 40.00
Comp. strength( MPa) 8.00 63.00
Water ( kg/m3) 103 264
Gravel ( kg/m3) 685 1504
Sand ( kg/m3) 441 1160
Cement ( kg/m3) 193 496

Table 2: Properties of ANN model

Architecture 5-20-20-4
Performance 0.001
Learning Algorithm LM
Activation Function Logsig- Logsig- Logsig
Performance Function mse

Table 3: Inputs of testing data

Fine Agg. Comp. Strength at
Fineness Modulus Max Agg. Size of
Test Ref. Slump (mm) Percentage
of Fine Agg. Coarse Agg. (mm) 28-Day (MPa)
(%)
[12] 35.00 35.90 2.62 20.00 31.70
[12] 55.00 35.90 2.62 20.00 37.50
[12] 35.00 35.90 2.62 20.00 33.50

455
 The 2nd Regional . Conf. for Eng. Sci. /College. of Eng. / Al-Nahrain University /1-2/12/2010

[12] 60.00 35.90 2.62 20.00 38.80

[13] 110.00 38.60 2.14 40.00 8.50
[13] 99.00 41.10 3.07 40.00 23.20
[13] 100.00 37.50 2.69 20.00 10.00
[13] 35.00 36.30 2.14 20.00 31.00
Ref. Cement (kg/m3) Fine Agg. (kg/m3) Coarse Agg. (kg/m3) Water (kg/m3)
[13] 110.00 41.60 3.07 14.00 13.20
[13] 37.00 39.90 2.69 14.00 33.50
[13] 10.00 38.50 2.14 14.00 57.30
[13] 45.00 45.00 3.07 12.70 35.60
[13] 10.00 43.20 2.69 12.70 59.30
[13] 140.00 46.40 3.05 20.00 39.50
[15] 30.00 55.80 3.05 20.00 16.60
[11] 20.00 30.00 2.78 20.00 28.60
[11] 35.00 50.00 2.78 20.00 16.20
[11] 20.00 40.00 2.78 20.00 32.00
[11] 90.00 30.00 2.78 20.00 32.00
[11] 25.00 50.00 2.78 20.00 36.50
[11] 100.00 40.00 2.78 20.00 31.30
[11] 50.00 30.00 2.78 20.00 48.80
[11] 90.00 50.00 2.78 20.00 37.80
[11] 35.00 40.00 2.10 20.00 19.80
[11] 25.00 30.00 2.10 20.00 34.80
[11] 50.00 50.00 2.10 20.00 21.40
[11] 20.00 40.00 2.10 20.00 38.10
[11] 95.00 30.00 2.10 20.00 33.50
[11] 25.00 50.00 2.10 20.00 36.80
[11] 80.00 40.00 2.10 20.00 37.70
[11] 50.00 30.00 2.78 40.00 26.70
[11] 100.00 50.00 2.78 40.00 13.90
[11] 45.00 40.00 2.78 40.00 31.80
[11] 15.00 30.00 2.78 40.00 41.90
[11] 35.00 50.00 2.78 40.00 30.30
[11] 15.00 40.00 2.78 40.00 44.20
[11] 80.00 30.00 2.78 40.00 41.80
[11] 95.00 50.00 2.10 40.00 12.50
[11] 55.00 40.00 2.10 40.00 19.80
[11] 55.00 30.00 2.10 40.00 33.10
[11] 75.00 50.00 2.10 40.00 18.90
[11] 50.00 40.00 2.10 40.00 32.60
[11] 25.00 30.00 2.10 40.00 44.80
[11] 40.00 50.00 2.10 40.00 32.50
[14] 100.00 43.10 2.90 20.00 36.55
[14] 90.00 39.40 2.90 40.00 38.00
[14] 95.00 39.60 2.90 20.00 40.60
[14] 100.00 39.60 2.90 40.00 41.00
[14] 90.00 38.90 2.16 20.00 40.00
[14] 95.00 38.90 2.16 40.00 40.10
EXP. ANN %Error EXP. ANN %Error EXP. ANN %Error EXP. ANN %Error
[12] 270 312.4 15.70 734 699.82 4.66 1309 1236.9 5.51 135 168.7 24.97
[12] 390 387.4 0.67 643 653.93 1.70 1147 1163.7 1.46 195 191.8 1.63
[12] 270 314.7 16.54 734 696.83 5.06 1309 1231.8 5.90 135 165.3 22.45
[12] 390 394.7 1.20 643 651.94 1.39 1147 1166 1.66 195 189.5 2.82

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[13] 250 247.4 1.02 734 732.19 0.25 1166 1161.9 0.35 210 198.9 5.30
[13] 315 263.8 16.24 805 797.85 0.89 1152 1153.3 0.11 189 170.6 9.74
[13] 250 250 0.02 712 719 0.98 1188 1206.1 1.53 210 197.3 6.06
[13] 300 310.3 3.44 705 687.12 2.54 1234 1205 2.35 163 166.8 2.32
[13] 250 250.5 0.21 790 789.01 0.13 1110 1091.1 1.70 210 204.8 2.47
[13] 300 357.1 19.02 773 757.16 2.05 1166 1125.3 3.49 163 189.3 16.11
[13] 496 498 0.39 726 715.37 1.46 1159 1120.8 3.30 173 173.9 0.53
[13] 300 376.2 25.39 873 855.73 1.98 1066 1033.2 3.07 163 192.7 18.22
[13] 496 515.5 3.94 815 783.12 3.91 1070 1015.1 5.13 173 206.2 19.16
[13] 330 371.5 12.58 865 834.48 3.53 1000 928.97 7.10 163 188.7 15.76
[15] 216 258.6 19.73 1060 1096.6 3.45 840 783.77 6.70 160 192.4 20.25
[11] 275 274.9 0.04 577 567.29 1.68 1348 1337.7 0.76 142 140.4 1.11
[11] 275 266.6 3.04 962 959.22 0.29 963 969.56 0.68 173 168.7 2.47
[11] 325 316.7 2.55 747 754.36 0.99 1121 1135.3 1.28 153 153.8 0.53
[11] 325 317.3 2.38 561 560.39 0.11 1308 1317.4 0.72 169 162.4 3.90
[11] 375 409.7 9.25 900 891.34 0.96 900 901.92 0.21 172 183.6 6.76
[11] 375 358.7 4.35 720 730.86 1.51 1080 1103.2 2.15 195 190.4 2.34
[11] 425 418.9 1.43 529 527.81 0.22 1235 1231.1 0.32 168 162.2 3.44
[11] 425 429.1 0.96 882 877.72 0.49 882 868.65 1.51 204 210.5 3.20
[11] 275 285.5 3.83 770 763.53 0.84 1155 1161.8 0.59 168 182.1 8.40
[11] 325 331.4 1.95 561 556.09 0.88 1308 1304.3 0.27 149 155.8 4.56
[11] 325 331.5 1.98 934 936.82 0.30 935 932.52 0.27 188 192.8 2.57
[11] 375 386.8 3.14 720 721.15 0.16 1080 1086.3 0.58 172 174.7 1.58
[11] 375 372.6 0.64 540 537.38 0.49 1260 1264.5 0.36 199 184.8 7.13
[11] 425 419.6 1.28 882 877.54 0.51 882 906.02 2.72 195 194.8 0.10
[11] 425 420 1.17 705 695.62 1.33 1058 1036.3 2.05 206 202.6 1.67
[11] 275 269.3 2.07 577 582.63 0.98 1348 1347.2 0.06 144 140.7 2.26
[11] 275 290.4 5.60 962 957.55 0.46 963 950 1.35 180 189 4.97
[11] 325 334.4 2.88 747 752.18 0.69 1121 1125.8 0.43 154 159.4 3.47
[11] 375 364.3 2.85 540 536.38 0.67 1260 1252.5 0.60 150 144.8 3.48
[11] 375 379.1 1.10 900 906.03 0.67 900 904.79 0.53 187 178.7 4.45
[11] 425 434 2.12 705 690.44 2.07 1058 1044.3 1.29 161 162.2 0.740
[11] 425 423.6 0.33 529 516.91 2.29 1235 1221.2 1.11 174 180.5 3.76
[11] 275 273.6 0.49 962 954.05 0.83 963 952.69 1.07 191 180.8 5.34
[11] 275 286 4.01 770 759.88 1.31 1155 1154.3 0.06 162 176.1 8.73
[11] 325 343 5.55 561 545.1 2.83 1308 1276.5 2.40 158 163.5 3.46
[11] 325 323.5 0.48 934 934.54 0.06 935 927.68 0.78 193 191.3 0.89
[11] 375 371.5 0.94 720 715.36 0.64 1080 1074.3 0.53 187 182.6 2.37
[11] 425 430.4 1.27 529 537.88 1.68 1235 1228.3 0.54 155 165.6 6.86
[11] 425 412.8 2.86 882 876.06 0.67 882 894.17 1.38 200 199.1 0.47
[14] 300 358.3 19.43 831 761.61 8.35 1095 979.49 10.55 159 179.1 12.64
[14] 320 330.9 3.41 701 700.26 0.11 1078 1076.7 0.12 150 156.6 4.37
[14] 350 372.5 6.43 689 687.65 0.20 1053 1039.4 1.29 168 171.6 2.13
[14] 350 370.6 5.87 689 679.81 1.33 1053 1029.5 2.23 161 165.4 2.71
[14] 400 406.4 1.61 648 687.97 6.17 1016 1057.6 4.09 196 197.6 0.81
[14] 400 399.7 0.08 648 689.39 6.39 1016 1062.1 4.54 184 185.1 0.58

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 The 2nd Regional . Conf. for Eng. Sci. /College. of Eng. / Al-Nahrain University /1-2/12/2010

Output
Input
layer
layer

Hidden layer

Fig.1: Typical neural network model

1200 210
Data Points Data Points
Best Linear Fit R=0.990
Experimental value of water content (kg/m)

200 Best Linear Fit

Experimental of fine agg. content (kg/m )

1100
3

Y= T Y= T
190
1000
180
900
170
800
160
R=0.908
700 150

600 140

130
500 120 140 160 180 200 220
500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 3
Predicted value of water content (kg/m )
3
Predicted value of fine agg. content (kg/m )

a. Water content

Fig. 2 (a,b,c,d) Experimental trained parameters and corresponding ANN predictions for
test data

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 The 2nd Regional . Conf. for Eng. Sci. /College. of Eng. / Al-Nahrain University /1-2/12/2010
1400
Data Points
R=0.980

Experimental of corse agg. content (kg/m )

Best Linear Fit

3
1300 Y= T

1200

1100

1000

900

800
800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400
3
Predicted value of coarse agg. content (kg/m )

c. Coarse Agg. content

550
R=0.95456

Data Points
Best Linear Fit R=0.954
500
Experimental of cement content (kg/m )
3

Y= T

450

400

350

300

250

200
200 250 300 350 400 450 500
3
Predicted value of cement content (kg/m )

d. Cement. content
Fig. (2) cont.
459

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