This investigation introduces advanced predictive models for estimating axial strains in Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) confined concrete cylinders, addressing critical aspects of structural integrity in seismic environments. By synthesizing insights from a substantial dataset comprising 708 experimental observations, we harness the power of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and General Regression Analysis (GRA) to refine predictive accuracy and reliability. The enhanced models developed through this research demonstrate superior performance, evidenced by an impressive R-squared value of 0.85 and a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 1.42, and significantly advance our understanding of the behavior of CFRP-confined structures under load. Detailed comparisons with existing predictive models reveal our approaches' superior capacity to mimic and forecast axial strain behaviors accurately, offering essential benefits for designing and reinforcing concrete structures in earthquake-prone areas. This investigation sets a new benchmark in the field through meticulous analysis and innovative modeling, providing a robust framework for future engineering applications and research.

This interdisciplinary research study explores the environmental awareness, attitudes and behaviours of residents of a low-income, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, multifamily, heritage-listed housing development in the Midwest region of the United States. Through in-depth semi-structured face-to-face interviews and review of site photographs and online and archived news articles, the causal factors for and links between environmental behaviours, LEED and built heritage were explored. The findings reveal that the LEED features the residents valued in hierarchical order were: location, the building’s historic and renovated characteristics, its energy conservation system and the cleanliness and upkeep of the premises. The valued non-LEED features were security and privacy. Additionally, the findings show that residents possess a level of critical thinking and opinion pertaining to the importance of their residence as a restored building. The residents were highly aware of their own, their social group’s and the management’s behaviors and of the value of their property in terms of its historic significance and public image and presence in the neighborhood and among their social networks.