Most computer programs developed for reinforced concrete beam design either analyze a given cross section for load capacity or offer a limited solution from which the engineer must continue toward the final design. These programs are very useful in performing many tedious calculations. However, they generally do not offer assistance in areas of design that require intuitive reasoning, experiential knowledge, rules of thumb, and sound engineering judgement. This type of heuristic knowledge has been incorporated into a prototype knowledge-based expert system for reinforced concrete beam design and detailing called BeamEx. BeamEx interacts with the user to advise and establish suitable parameters required for the comprehensive design of rectangular simply supported and continuous beams. It incorporates heuristic rules drawn from the governing Canadian codes and textbooks to design alternative suitable beams which are presented in graphical form. It is shown that a knowledge-based system approach can be used effectively in engineering design by encapsulating domain expertise in a program to complement and check the experience of the users in design. Key words: knowledge-based expert system, reinforced concrete, beams, design, detailing.
A Particle Swarm Optimisation Approach to Reinforced Concrete Beam Design according to AS3600
