Prediction of rotation capacity of wide flange beams using neural networks

This study proposes Neural Networks (NN) as a new approach for the estimation and explicit formulation of available rotation capacity of wide flange beams. Rotation capacity is an important phenomenon which determines the plastic behaviour of steel structures. Thus the database for the NN training is directly based on extensive experimental results from literature. The results of the NN approach are compared with numerical results obtained by a specialized computer. Available rotation capacity is also introduced in a closed form solution based on the proposed NN model. The proposed NN method is seen to be more accurate than numerical results, practical and fast compared to FE models. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.