Predicting Embodied Carbon and Cost Effectiveness of Post-Tensioned Slabs Using Novel Hybrid Firefly ANN

Iman Faridmehr, Moncef L. Nehdi, Mehdi Nikoo and Kiyanets A. Valerievich
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Iman Faridmehr: Department of Building Construction and Structural Theory, South Ural State University, 76 pr. Lenina, 454080 Chelyabinsk, Russia
Moncef L. Nehdi: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada
Mehdi Nikoo: Young Researchers and Elite Club, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz 1915, Iran
Kiyanets A. Valerievich: Department of Building Construction and Structural Theory, South Ural State University, 76 pr. Lenina, 454080 Chelyabinsk, Russia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-30

Abstract: Post-tensioning has become a strong contender for manufacturing reinforced concrete (RC) members, especially for flat slabs in large-span structures. Post-tensioned (PT) slabs can lead to considerable material savings while reducing the embodied carbon (embodied CO 2 ), construction time, and life cycle maintenance and repair costs. In this research, a novel hybrid Firefly–Artificial Neural Network (Firefly–ANN) computational intelligence model was developed to estimate the cost effectiveness and embodied CO 2 of PT slabs with different design variables. To develop the dataset, several numerical models with various design variables, including the pattern of tendons, slab thickness, mechanical properties of materials, and span of slabs, were developed to investigate the sustainability and economic competitiveness of the derived designs compared to benchmark conventional RC flat slabs. Several performance measures, including punching shear and heel drop vibration induced by human activity, were used as design constraints to satisfy safety and serviceability criteria. The economic competitiveness of PT slabs was more evident in larger spans where the cost and embodied CO 2 emissions decreased by 39% and 12%, respectively, in PT slabs with a 12-m span length compared to conventional RC slabs. Sensitivity analysis also confirmed that the cost and embodied CO 2 emissions were very sensitive to the slab thickness by 86% and 62%, respectively.

Keywords: post-tension; reinforced concrete; slab; embodied carbon; sustainability; green construction; human-induced vibration; artificial neural network; firefly algorithm; model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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