Aided Diagnosis of Structural Pathologies with an Expert System

Sustainability and safety are social demands for long-life buildings. Suitable inspection and maintenance tasks on structural elements are needed for keeping buildings safely in service. Any malfunction that causes structural damage could be called pathology by analogy between structural engineering and medicine. Even the easiest evaluation tasks require expensive training periods that may be shortened with a suitable tool. This work presents an expert system (called Doctor House or DH) for diagnosing pathologies of structural elements in buildings. DH differs from other expert systems when it deals with uncertainty in a far easier but still useful way and it is capable of aiding during the initial survey ‘in situ’, when damage should be detected at a glance. DH is a powerful tool that represents complex knowledge gathered from bibliography and experts. Knowledge codification and uncertainty treatment are the main achievements presented. Finally, DH was tested and validated during real surveys.

[1]  Bulent Tiryaki,et al.  Application of artificial neural networks for predicting the cuttability of rocks by drag tools , 2008 .

[2]  A. N. Jiang,et al.  Feedback analysis of tunnel construction using a hybrid arithmetic based on Support Vector Machine and Particle Swarm Optimisation , 2011 .

[3]  Jonathan Lee,et al.  A fuzzy Petri net-based expert system and its application to damage assessment of bridges , 1999, IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern. Part B.

[4]  Chimay J. Anumba,et al.  Intelligent pathological assessment of housing subsidence , 2001 .

[5]  Yeong Min Kim,et al.  Fuzzy set based crack diagnosis system for reinforced concrete structures , 2007 .

[6]  Albert K. W. Wu,et al.  A knowledge-based application in engineering , 1997 .

[7]  Paul Harmon,et al.  Expert systems: artificial intelligence in business , 1985 .

[8]  Fu-Ping Cheng,et al.  Fuzzy PATTERN RECOGNITION MODEL FOR DIAGNOSING CRACKS IN RC STRUCTURES , 1998 .

[9]  T. V. S. R. Appa Rao,et al.  Knowledge-based expert system for damage assessment and vulnerability analysis of structures subjected to cyclones , 1997 .

[10]  H. M. Tanarslan,et al.  An approach for estimating the capacity of RC beams strengthened in shear with FRP reinforcements using artificial neural networks , 2012 .

[11]  Gary Riley,et al.  Expert Systems: Principles and Programming , 2004 .

[12]  José L. Zapico,et al.  Seismic damage identification in buildings using neural networks and modal data , 2008 .

[13]  K. Chau,et al.  Neural network and genetic programming for modelling coastal algal blooms , 2006 .

[14]  Fong Chan.  AN EXPERT SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSIS OF PROBLEMS IN REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES , 1996 .

[15]  Koenraad Van Balen,et al.  Expert system for evaluation of deterioration of ancient brick masonry structures , 1996 .

[16]  Koenraad Van Balen.  Learning from damage of masonry structures, expert systems can help! , 2001 .

[17]  Sherif Yehia,et al.  A decision support system for concrete bridge deck maintenance , 2008, Adv. Eng. Softw..

[18]  Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas,et al.  A multiple criteria decision support on-line system for construction , 2007, Eng. Appl. Artif. Intell..

[19]  Homayoun Najjaran,et al.  Fuzzy Expert System to Assess Corrosion of Cast/Ductile Iron Pipes from Backfill Properties , 2006, Comput. Aided Civ. Infrastructure Eng..

[20]  Hong Zhang,et al.  Fuzzy-multi-objective particle swarm optimization for time―cost―quality tradeoff in construction , 2010 .

[21]  Palle Thoft-Christensen,et al.  An Expert System for Concrete Bridge Management , 1997 .

[22]  Chuntian Cheng,et al.  Combining a fuzzy optimal model with a genetic algorithm to solve multi-objective rainfall–runoff model calibration , 2002 .

[23]  Jaime Calavera,et al.  Patología de estructuras de hormigón armado y pretensado , 1996 .

[24]  Kwok-wing Chau,et al.  A hybrid adaptive time-delay neural network model for multi-step-ahead prediction of sunspot activity , 2006 .

[25]  Gang Li,et al.  Multiple criteria data envelopment analysis for full ranking units associated to environment impact assessment , 2006 .

[26]  Joanna Poon.  DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXPERT SYSTEM MODELLING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS , 2004 .

[27]  Mohan M. Kumaraswamy,et al.  Developing a decision support system for building project procurement , 2001 .

[28]  James R. Clifton,et al.  Expert/knowledge based systems for materials in the construction industry: State-of-the-art report , 1995 .

[29]  John Knapton,et al.  Research into a Management System for Diagnosis, Maintenance, and Repair of Concrete Structures , 2003 .

[30]  Zhiye Zhao,et al.  A fuzzy system for concrete bridge damage diagnosis , 2002 .

[31]  Kenji Ito,et al.  Expert systems and integrated construction planning , 1990 .

[32]  Xilin Lu,et al.  KBES for evaluating R.C. framed buildings using fuzzy sets , 1997 .