Deep learning neural networks for monitoring early-age concrete strength through a surface-bonded PZT sensor configuration

Monitoring the immediate evolution of concrete's strength is essential to ensure structural integrity and construction efficiency, requiring Forecasting to avoid unforeseen and severe failures during construction. The present investigation introduces an Equivalent structural parametric (ESP) study using a surface-bonded piezo sensor and electromechanical impedance (EMI) methodology to monitor and forecast the strength of concrete by implementing machine learning and deep learning methods. The concrete hydration processes are simulated using COMSOL™ 5.5. The concrete cube's hydration is represented by altering Young's modulus and damping ratio to show the rate of curing. Concrete strength development is examined in terms of conductance resonant frequency (CRF) and Conductance resonant peak (CRP). Continuous conductance signature monitoring and data analysis show that CRF and CRP increase with compressive strength. The system's mechanical impedance is measured, and EMI signatures vs. frequency plots within a specific frequency range are compared to healthy impedance graphs. A mass-spring-damper system with identical properties is identified, and relevant structural parameters are computed. Modern ML algorithms include linear regression (LR), interaction LR, fine, medium, and coarse Gaussian SVM, etc. reliably predict strength with an error rate of less than 2%. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) have advanced image-based recognition, but their usage in EMI-based structural strength assessment is still being studied. A unique strategy using 2D CNN, 2D CNN– Long short-term memory (LSTM), and 2D CNN Bidirectional-LSTM to forecast concrete structure compressive strength shows the potential of deep learning. The proposed 2D CNN-Bi-LSTM model excels in compressive strength prediction, obtaining an R² value of 0.99 and stabilizing loss error over a few epochs.