About Book

Civil Engineering is one of the broadest and oldest of the engineering disciplines, extending across many technical specialties. Civil engineers plan, design and supervise the construction of facilities essential to modern life like space satellites and launching facilities, offshore structures, bridges, buildings, tunnels, highways, transit systems, dams, airports, harbours, water supply system and wastewater treatment plants. The effective practice of civil engineering necessitates a strong background in the mathematical and physical science, an understanding of the properties of construction materials such as steel, concrete, timber and soils. The civil engineering plays an important role in the preservation of the environment, principally through design of works to enhance rather than to damage or pollute. This book tries to cover a wide picture how the various techniques can be applied to civil engineering problems such as construction, project management, structural engineering, water, environmental engineering, and transportation engineering. It examines methods developed for dealing with and applied to solve problems of civil engineering. It explores durability monitoring, civil engineering structures, inverse analysis, structural material, photogrammetric system, neuro- fuzzy inference system, sensitivity analysis, computed tomography and microstructure. Different approaches, evaluations and methodologies have been included in it. This book is meant for students and researchers who are looking for an elaborate reference on civil engineering.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 The Use of Computed Tomography to Explore the Microstructure of Materials in Civil Engineering: From Rocks to Concrete...........1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. Introduction to computed tomography (CT) scan technology....2

2. Use of CT scan technology in paleontology...................................4

3. Use of CT scan technology in heritage and ancient relics...........6

4. Use of CT scan technology in asphalt mixtures.............................7

5. Use of CT scan technology in rock mineralogy.............................8

6. Use of CT scan technology in metals.............................................10

7. Use of CT scan technology in composites.....................................12

8. Use of CT scan technology in concrete..........................................13

9. Conclusions..........................................................................................22

Chapter 2 Advanced Methods in Neural Networks-Based Sensitivity Analysis with their Applications in Civil Engineering....................................30

Abstract.................................................................................................30

1. Introduction..........................................................................................31

2. Typical neural networks-based sensitivity analysis

algorithms.............................................................................................32

3. Neural network committee-based sensitivity analysis................35

4. NNC-based sensitivity analysis of strata movement...................38

5. NNE-based parameter sensitivity analysis....................................41

6. Illustrative case studies......................................................................42

7. Summary...............................................................................................47

Chapter 3 Neural Network and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System

Applied to Civil Engineering Problems ............................................51

1. Introduction..........................................................................................51

2. Artificial neural network...................................................................53

3. Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS).........................59

4. Cases studies........................................................................................63

5. Conclusion .....................................................................................80

6. Nomenclature.......................................................................................81

Chapter 4 Application of a Photogrammetric System for Monitoring Civil

Engineering Structures ...........................................................................92

1. Introduction..........................................................................................92

2. Background of digital photogrammetry .......................................93

3. Visual Monitoring System (VMS)....................................................95

4. Experimental investigation using VMS........................................100

5. Conclusion..........................................................................................115

Chapter 5 Inverse Analysis in Civil Engineering: Applications to Identification

of Parameters and Design of Structural Material Using Mono or

Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization................................120

1. Introduction........................................................................................120

2. Principle of inverse analysis and particle swarm

optimization.......................................................................................122

3. Application to structural problems ..............................................125

4. Application to eco conception ......................................................139

5. The wood-plastic composite preliminary eco-design

problem...............................................................................................142

6. Results and discussion ...................................................................147

7. Conclusion..........................................................................................150

Chapter 6 Electromagnetic Sensing Techniques for Non-Destructive

Diagnosis of Civil Engineering Structures.......................................154

1. Introduction........................................................................................154

2. Electromagnetic sensing techniques..............................................160

3. Conclusion .........................................................................................179

4. Acknowledgment .............................................................................180

Chapter 7 Influence of Global Warming on the RC Structures and Durability

Monitoring in Civil Engineering .......................................................189

1. Introduction........................................................................................189

2. Mechanism of the reinforcing steel’s corrosion..........................190

3. Characterize the corrosion by the EIS and EN techniques......193

4. Corrosion sensors and networks ..................................................208

5. Application of the corrosion monitoring system in civil

engineering ........................................................................................213

6. Conclusions and prospects ............................................................221

7. Acknowledgment..............................................................................222

Citation......................................................................................................229

Index...........................................................................................................231

About Author

Stephen Bowman obtained his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from University of Science & Technology, Lisbon. He is working as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Technical Institute, Valencia. He has written several articles and research papers on construction materials and pavements, soil mechanics, urban development, project management, project appraisal, land planning infrastructures and soil contaminant interaction. His researches are focused on design, development, and implementation of risk management processes, strategies, and systems to meet demands of various institutions. Bowman consistently shares his knowledge with the student fraternity by organizing lectures and conferences around the globe.