In this study, the efficiency of artificial neural networks (ANN) in predicting the shear strength of reinforced concrete (RC) beams, strengthened by means of externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP), is explored. Experimental data of 96 rectangular RC beams from an existing database in the literature were used to develop the ANN model. Eight different input parameters affecting the shear strength were selected for creating the ANN structure. Each parameter was arranged in an input vector and a corresponding output vector that includes the shear strength of the RC beam. For all outputs, the ANN model was trained and tested using a three-layered back-propagation method. The initial performance of back-propagation was evaluated and discussed. In addition, the accuracy of well-known building codes in predicting the shear strength of FRP-strengthened RC beams was also examined, in a comparable way, using same test data. The study shows that the ANN model gives reasonable predictions of the ultimate shear strength of RC beams (R 2 ≈0.93). Moreover, the study concludes that the ANN model predicts the shear strength of FRP-strengthened RC beams better than existing building code approaches.
In this study, steel column base plate connections of a steel industrial building that are one of the most important connection regions were studied. Two dimensional static analysis of a steel industrial building was performed and exposed column base plate dimensions were determined according to American Institute of Steel Construction Code-LRFD (Load and Resistance Factor Design) method. The effects of selected steel column cross section types on the behaviour of column base plate connections were investigated by using RFEM finite element analysis program. For this purpose, finite element analysis of three types of column base plate connection models were performed and evaluated comparatively. From results, the best value for top column lateral displacement was obtained in W column section-base plate connection and the best behaviour for Von Mises stresses values was obtained in square hollow section column. The undesired behaviour was determined in circular hollow section column-base plate connection type.
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