Empirical modeling of splitting tensile strength from cylinder compressive strength of concrete by genetic programming

Compressive strength and splitting tensile strength are both mechanical properties of concrete that are utilized in structural design. This study presents gene expression programming (GEP) as a new tool for the formulations of splitting tensile strength from compressive strength of concrete. For purpose of building the GEP-based formulations, 536 experimental data have been gathered from existing literature. The GEP-based formulations are developed for splitting tensile strength of concrete as a function of age of specimen and cylinder compressive strength. In experimental parts of this study, cylindrical specimens of 150 × 300 mm and 100 × 200 mm in dimensions are utilized. Training and testing sets of the GEP-based formulations are randomly separated from the complete experimental data. The GEP-based formulations are also validated with additional 173 data of experimental results other than the data used in training and testing sets of the GEP-based formulations. All of the results obtained from the GEP-based formulations are compared with the results obtained from experimental data, the developed regression-based formulation and formulas given by some national building codes. These comparisons showed that the GEP-based formulations appeared to well agree with the experimental data and found to be quite reliable.

► This study presents GEP as a new tool for the formulations of splitting tensile strength from cylinder compressive strength of concrete.
► The GEP formulations are developed for splitting tensile strength of concrete as a function of age of specimen and cylinder compressive strength.
► All of the results obtained from the GEP formulations are compared with the results obtained from experimental data, the developed regression-based formulation, and some national building codes.
► These comparisons showed that the GEP formulations appeared to well agree with the experimental data and found to be quite reliable.