A Novel Assisted Artificial Neural Network Modeling Approach for Improved Accuracy Using Small Datasets: Application in Residual Strength Evaluation of Panels with Multiple Site Damage Cracks

Abstract

An artificial neural network (ANN) extracts knowledge from a training dataset and uses this acquired knowledge to forecast outputs for any new set of inputs. When the input/output relations are complex and highly non-linear, the ANN needs a relatively large training dataset (hundreds of data points) to capture these relations adequately. This paper introduces a novel assisted-ANN modeling approach that enables the development of ANNs using small datasets, while maintaining high prediction accuracy. This approach uses parameters that are obtained using the known input/output relations (partial or full relations). These so called assistance parameters are included as ANN inputs in addition to the traditional direct independent inputs. The proposed assisted approach is applied for predicting the residual strength of panels with multiple site damage (MSD) cracks. Different assistance levels (four levels) and different training dataset sizes (from 75 down to 22 data points) are investigated, and the results are compared to the traditional approach. The results show that the assisted approach helps in achieving high predictions’ accuracy (<3% average error). The relative accuracy improvement is higher (up to 46%) for ANN learning algorithms that give lower prediction accuracy. Also, the relative accuracy improvement becomes more significant (up to 38%) for smaller dataset sizes.