Cost optimization of reinforced concrete structures using fibers concrete using with meta-heuristic methods

Fiber-reinforced concrete structures increase load-bearing capacity and consequently reduce the need for reinforcement. However, adding fibers to concrete incurs additional costs. Therefore, there is no clear information in the literature on whether fiber usage is advantageous in terms of cost. This study investigates the impact of fiber-reinforced and non-fiber-reinforced concrete structures on optimal costs. For this purpose, two programs were developed to optimize the sizing of fiber-reinforced concrete systems. The first program can optimize the sizing of fiber-reinforced concrete beams in MATLAB. The second program optimizes the sizing of both fiber-reinforced and non-fiber-reinforced concrete frames using the VB.net programming language synchronized with the ETABS finite element software via the OAPI platform. In the design of fiber-reinforced concrete, the calculation method recommended by the Fib Model Code (2010) was used. Additionally, the design of fiber-reinforced concrete requires certain test data, provided by the Crack Mouth Opening Displacement (CMOD) test. This test is conducted according to the EN 14651 standard, yielding tensile bending values corresponding to crack mouth opening deformations. These values are used in the design principles of fiber-reinforced concrete. In this study, frame design was used in the programs developed to compare the cost performance of fiber-reinforced and non-fiber-reinforced concrete in structures. In the frame design, only beam elements were designed with fibers. Optimizing these designs enables the construction of economical structures. Metaheuristic methods were employed in the programs developed for the optimal design analyses of fiber-reinforced concrete beams and fiber-reinforced and non-fiber-reinforced concrete frames. Among the methods used were Artificial Bee Colony Optimization (ABCO), Biogeography-Based Optimization (BBO), and Tree-Seed Optimization (TSO), which are proven methods, as well as a new method called Wild Horse Optimization (WHO). The performance of WHO was compared with other optimization methods in various engineering problems, and its features were enhanced to develop an Improved Wild Horse Optimization (IWHO). For comparing the performance of optimization methods, the first program used examples of single-span beams with different spans under distributed load. The second program used a two-dimensional six-member frame example and reference two-dimensional and three-dimensional reinforced concrete frame examples. Analyses performed on frame examples showed that fiber-reinforced design offers a more economical solution compared to non-fiber-reinforced design by reducing the amount of reinforcement. This study not only contributes to original academic publications but also holds significant importance in enhancing cost efficiency in the construction industry.