Prediction of the Consistency of Concrete by Means of the Use of Artificial Neural Networks

Abstract

This chapter displays an example of application of the ANN in civil engineering. Concretely, it is applied to the prediction of the consistency of the fresh concrete through the results that slump test provides, a simple approach to the rheological behaviour of the mixtures. From the previously done tests, an artificial neural network trained by means of genetic algorithms adjusts to the situation, and has the variable value of the cone as an output, and as an input, diverse variables related to the composition of each type of concrete. The final discussion is based on the quality of the results and its possible application.