Soft Computing Techniques in Civil Engineering : Time Series Prediction

Soft computing techniques are applied to a huge quantity of problems spread in several areas of science. In this case, Evolutionary Computation (EC) techniques are applied, in concrete Genetic Programming (GP), to a temporary problem associated to the field of Civil Engineering. The case of study of this technique has been centered in the prediction, over time, of the behavior of the structural concrete in controlled conditions. Given the temporary nature of the case of study, it has been necessary to make several changes to the classical algorithm of GP, among whom it can be emphasized the incorporation of a new operator that gives the GP the ability to be able to solve problems with temporary behavior. The obtained results shown that the proposed method has succeeded in improving the adjustment to the current regulations about creep in the structural concrete. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-61350-456-7.ch8.11