Study on the use of different machine learning techniques for prediction of concrete properties from their mixture proportions with their deterministic and robust optimisation

The construction industry relies so heavily on concrete that it's crucial to precisely forecast and optimize the strength and workability of concrete mixtures, while reducing costs as much as possible. For this objective, this study tries to predict and optimize the compressive strength and workability (slump) of concrete by using deterministic and robust optimization approaches, so as to determine the optimum concrete mixture proportions, while minimizing cost. Specifically, strength and slump were predicted based on concrete mixture proportions with five different machine learning techniques—support vector machine (SVM), artificial neural network (ANN), fuzzy inference system (FIS), adaptive fuzzy inference system (ANIS), and genetic expression programming (GEP), based on a dataset comprising two hundred concrete mixtures, which has various levels of key ingredients, including cement, water, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, and size of coarse aggregate, along with their associated measures of strength and workability. These ingredients were used as input parameters, while compressive strength and slump (representing workability) served as output parameters for each mix proportion. Experimental investigations were conducted on fifteen distinct concrete mixes to validate the performance of the five networks, finding that ANFIS can yield the best results both for training and validation. This study provides valuable insights for predicting concrete properties and optimizing concrete mixture proportions, thus helping to maximize strength and workability while minimizing costs.