Self compacting concrete with recycled aggregate compressive strength prediction based on gradient boosting regression tree with Bayesian optimization hybrid model

Abstract Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a special type of concrete that is used in applications requiring high workability, such as in densely reinforced or complex formwork situations. The estimation of 28-day compressive strength for this type is usually made by costly and time-consuming labora...

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Main Authors: Emad A. Abood, Zainab Abdulrdha Thoeny, Noralhuda M. Azize, Hamza Imran, Viroon Kamchoom, Kennedy C. Onyelowe, Krishna Prakash Arunachalam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11161-0
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author Emad A. Abood
Zainab Abdulrdha Thoeny
Noralhuda M. Azize
Hamza Imran
Viroon Kamchoom
Kennedy C. Onyelowe
Krishna Prakash Arunachalam
author_facet Emad A. Abood
Zainab Abdulrdha Thoeny
Noralhuda M. Azize
Hamza Imran
Viroon Kamchoom
Kennedy C. Onyelowe
Krishna Prakash Arunachalam
author_sort Emad A. Abood
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a special type of concrete that is used in applications requiring high workability, such as in densely reinforced or complex formwork situations. The estimation of 28-day compressive strength for this type is usually made by costly and time-consuming laboratory tests. The problem becomes even more complex when recycled aggregates are added to the mixture to promote eco-friendly and sustainable construction practices. In our research we presented a new hybrid model, GBRT, that was integrated with Bayesian Optimization. This model is able to accurately and efficiently estimate the compressive strength of SCC containing recycled aggregates. We evaluated the model using well-known performance metrics such as RMSE, MAE, and $$\textrm{R}^{2}$$ . The performance of the model gave us, on average, an RMSE of 6.000, MAE of 3.968, and $$\textrm{R}^{2}$$ of 0.806 in five-fold cross-validation, which emphasized its strong predictive capability and potential as a cost-effective alternative to conventional laboratory testing. The model was also compared with single learner models such as SVR and KNN in order to demonstrate the superiority of the hybrid approach in terms of prediction accuracy and robustness. Our hybrid model surpassed the two previously mentioned models when testing their performance on the test data. Since our model works as a black-box model, a novel explaining machine learning technique named SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations) was employed to determine which predictors have the most importance and how they trend. The developed model is an accurate, fast, and economical substitute for predicting 28-day compressive strength of self-compacting concrete with recycled aggregates. Finally, the model is converted into an easy-to-use graphical interface that provides civil engineers and practitioners with a useful decision-support tool for mix design optimization and quality control in real-life construction projects.
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spelling doaj-art-8455da5f1d7a4a1daa97be62a78f3c562025-08-20T03:46:00ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111810.1038/s41598-025-11161-0Self compacting concrete with recycled aggregate compressive strength prediction based on gradient boosting regression tree with Bayesian optimization hybrid modelEmad A. Abood0Zainab Abdulrdha Thoeny1Noralhuda M. Azize2Hamza Imran3Viroon Kamchoom4Kennedy C. Onyelowe5Krishna Prakash Arunachalam6Department of Material Engineering, College of Engineering, Al-Shatrah UniversityDepartment of Political Thought, College of Political Sciences, University of BaghdadDepartment of Material Engineering, College of Engineering, Al-Shatrah UniversityDepartment of Environmental Science, College of Energy and Environmental Science, Alkarkh University of ScienceExcellent Centre for Green and Sustainable Infrastructure, Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL)Department of Civil Engineering, Kampala International UniversityDepartamento de Ciencias de la Construcción, Facultad de Ciencias de la Construcción Ordenamiento Territorial, Universidad Tecnológica MetropolitanaAbstract Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a special type of concrete that is used in applications requiring high workability, such as in densely reinforced or complex formwork situations. The estimation of 28-day compressive strength for this type is usually made by costly and time-consuming laboratory tests. The problem becomes even more complex when recycled aggregates are added to the mixture to promote eco-friendly and sustainable construction practices. In our research we presented a new hybrid model, GBRT, that was integrated with Bayesian Optimization. This model is able to accurately and efficiently estimate the compressive strength of SCC containing recycled aggregates. We evaluated the model using well-known performance metrics such as RMSE, MAE, and $$\textrm{R}^{2}$$ . The performance of the model gave us, on average, an RMSE of 6.000, MAE of 3.968, and $$\textrm{R}^{2}$$ of 0.806 in five-fold cross-validation, which emphasized its strong predictive capability and potential as a cost-effective alternative to conventional laboratory testing. The model was also compared with single learner models such as SVR and KNN in order to demonstrate the superiority of the hybrid approach in terms of prediction accuracy and robustness. Our hybrid model surpassed the two previously mentioned models when testing their performance on the test data. Since our model works as a black-box model, a novel explaining machine learning technique named SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations) was employed to determine which predictors have the most importance and how they trend. The developed model is an accurate, fast, and economical substitute for predicting 28-day compressive strength of self-compacting concrete with recycled aggregates. Finally, the model is converted into an easy-to-use graphical interface that provides civil engineers and practitioners with a useful decision-support tool for mix design optimization and quality control in real-life construction projects.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11161-0Self compating concreteRecycled aggregateMachine learningCompressive strength 
spellingShingle Emad A. Abood
Zainab Abdulrdha Thoeny
Noralhuda M. Azize
Hamza Imran
Viroon Kamchoom
Kennedy C. Onyelowe
Krishna Prakash Arunachalam
Self compacting concrete with recycled aggregate compressive strength prediction based on gradient boosting regression tree with Bayesian optimization hybrid model
Scientific Reports
Self compating concrete
Recycled aggregate
Machine learning
Compressive strength 
title Self compacting concrete with recycled aggregate compressive strength prediction based on gradient boosting regression tree with Bayesian optimization hybrid model
title_full Self compacting concrete with recycled aggregate compressive strength prediction based on gradient boosting regression tree with Bayesian optimization hybrid model
title_fullStr Self compacting concrete with recycled aggregate compressive strength prediction based on gradient boosting regression tree with Bayesian optimization hybrid model
title_full_unstemmed Self compacting concrete with recycled aggregate compressive strength prediction based on gradient boosting regression tree with Bayesian optimization hybrid model
title_short Self compacting concrete with recycled aggregate compressive strength prediction based on gradient boosting regression tree with Bayesian optimization hybrid model
title_sort self compacting concrete with recycled aggregate compressive strength prediction based on gradient boosting regression tree with bayesian optimization hybrid model
topic Self compating concrete
Recycled aggregate
Machine learning
Compressive strength 
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11161-0
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