Abstract. In knowledge representation by fuzzy rule based systems two reasoning mechanisms can be distinguished: conjunction-based and implication-based inference. Both approaches have complementary advantages and drawbacks depending on the structure of the knowledge that should be represented. Implicative rule bases are less sensitive to incompleteness of knowledge. However, implication-based inference has not been widely used. This disregard is probably due to the lack of suitable methods for the automated acquisition of implicative fuzzy rules. In this paper a genetic programming based approach for the data-driven extraction of implicative fuzzy rules is presented. The proposed algorithm has been applied to the acquisition of rule bases for the design of reinforced concrete structural members. Finally an outlook on the application of the presented approach within a machine learning environment for evolutionary design and optimization of complex structural systems is given.

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