Table 13 Comparison between experimental and ML-based durability assessment approach.

From: Prediction of rapid chloride permeability using silica fume, fly ash, GGBS and micro fibers based geopolymer concrete

Aspect

Experimental assessment

ML-based assessment

Time Requirement

Long duration (6–24 h for RCPT and curing-dependent)

Instant prediction once the model is trained

Resource demand

Requires costly test setup, power supply, and skilled operators

Low resource usage after data preparation

Data input

Experimental measurements from lab testing

Input parameters easily assessed

Accuracy & variability

Susceptible to human and procedural errors

Consistent, data-driven, and less operator-dependent

Generalizability

Limited to tested samples and curing conditions

Can generalize across wide material combinations (if trained on diverse datasets)

Environmental impact

Involves energy-intensive curing and testing

Promotes sustainability by reducing experimental repetitions

Practical application

Direct measurement of durability indices

Predictive tool for design optimization and decision support