Artificial Neural Network Modeling Of Fly Ash Concretes – An Overview

Abstract

Fly ash, a by-product procured from thermal power plants have been used alternatively in varying proportions with cement as a resource material for various civil infrastructure and building constructions. The complexity of delineation of quality of concrete enhances when additives like fly ash other than conventional ingredients are added to cement concrete. However, additives have proved to be exerting their significance in terms of their role in gross cement cost, saving of energy and environmental benefits. Many researchers have attempted with limited success, by application of numerical and empirical modeling work to improve the quality and performance of cement concrete. Alternatively, a new approach known as artificial neural networks (ANNs) can be applied for better prediction of the fly ash concrete strengths. This paper gives an overview of applications of ANN in prediction of the compressive strengths of concretes containing fly ash.