Sustainable concrete mix — Design: Evolutionary algorithm approach

Abstract

Concrete mix design is one of the most challenging and versatile fields in civil engineering. There are many existing methods for concrete mix design. The most commonly used technique in India is as provided by the Bureau of Indian Standards [1]. However it is just not the characteristic strength that matters, even the cost of manufacture of concrete also has to be taken into consideration. Most part of the cost of manufacture of concrete of various grades depends on the amount of cement to be used. Portland cement which is widely used across the globe has the maximum content of lime which, on hydration, releases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Keeping in mind the current global scenario, where construction work is at its peak and the world is concerned about sustainability, the use of materials having lower carbon footprint has become one of the major areas of research. The paper addresses unconventional concrete mix design by using an evolutionary algorithm.