• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.345-359
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• 2016

In order to investigate the influence of the interfacial angel on failure characteristics and mechanism of combined coal-rock mass, 35 uniaxial/biaxial compressive simulation tests with 5 different interfacial angels of combined coal-rock samples were conducted by PFC2D software. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) The compressive strength and cohesion decrease with the increase of interfacial angle, which is defined as the angle between structure plane and the exterior normal of maximum principal plane, while the changes of elastic modulus and internal friction angle are not obvious; (2) The impact energy index $K_E$ decreases with the increase of interfacial angle, and the slip failure of the interface can be predicted based on whether the number of acoustic emission (AE) hits has multiple peaks or not; (3) There are four typical failure patterns for combined coal-rock samples including I (V-shaped shear failure of coal), II (single-fracture shear failure of coal), III (shear failure of rock and coal), and IV (slip rupture of interface); and (4) A positive correlation between interfacial angle and interface effect is shown obviously, and the interfacial angle can be divided into weak-influencing scope ($0-15^{\circ}$), moderate-influencing scope ($15-45^{\circ}$), and strong-influencing scope (> $45^{\circ}$), respectively. However, the confining pressure has a certain constraint effect on the interface effect.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.605-617
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• 2020

In this study, the experimental tests for the direct tensile strength measurement of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) were numerically modeled by using the discrete element method (circle type element) and Finite Element Method (FEM). The experimental tests used for the laboratory tensile strength measurement is the Compressive-to-Tensile Load Conversion (CTLC) device. In this paper, the failure process including the cracks initiation, propagation and coalescence studied and then the direct tensile strength of the UHPC specimens measured by the novel apparatus i.e., CTLC device. For this purpose, the UHPC member (each containing a central hole) prepared, and situated in the CTLC device which in turn placed in the universal testing machine. The direct tensile strength of the member is measured due to the direct tensile stress which is applied to this specimen by the CTLC device. This novel device transferring the applied compressive load to that of the tensile during the testing process. The UHPC beam specimen of size 150 × 60 × 190 mm and internal hole of 75 × 60 mm was used in this study. The rate of the applied compressive load to CTLC device through the universal testing machine was 0.02 MPa/s. The direct tensile strength of UHPC was found using a new formula based on the present analyses. The numerical simulation given in this study gives the tensile strength and failure behavior of the UHPC very close to those obtained experimentally by the CTLC device implemented in the universal testing machine. The percent variation between experimental results and numerical results was found as nearly 2%. PFC2D simulations of the direct tensile strength measuring specimen and ABAQUS simulation of the tested CTLC specimens both demonstrate the validity and capability of the proposed testing procedure for the direct tensile strength measurement of UHPC specimens.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.328-338
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• 2017

In this paper, a zero torque control scheme adopting current sharing function (CSF) used in integrated Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM) drive with DC battery charger is proposed. The proposed control scheme is able to achieve the keeping position (KP), zero torque (ZT) and power factor correction (PFC) at the same time with a simple novel current sharing function algorithm. The proposed CSF makes the proper reference for each phase windings of SRM to satisfy the total charging current of the battery with zero torque output to hold still position with power factor correction, and the copper loss minimization during of battery charging is also achieved during this process. Based on these, CSFs can be used without any recalculation of the optimal current at every sampling time. In this proposed integrated battery charger system, the cost effective, volume and weight reduction and power enlargement is realized by function multiplexing of the motor winding and asymmetric SR converter. By using the phase winding as large inductors for charging process, and taking the asymmetric SR converter as an interleaved converter with boost mode operation, the EV can be charged effectively and successfully with minimum integral system. In this integral system, there is a position sliding mode controller used to overcome any uncertainty such as mutual inductance or DC offset current sensor. Power factor correction and voltage adaption are obtained with three-phase buck type converter (or current source rectifier) that is cascaded with conventional SRM, one for wide input and output voltage range. The practicability is validated by the simulation and experimental results by using a laboratory 3-hp SRM setup based on TI TMS320F28335 platform.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.83-99
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• 2022

The two, NBD and SCB tests using gypsum circular discs each containing a single notch have been experimentally accomplished in a rock mechanics laboratory. These specimens have also been numerically modelled by a two-dimensional particle flow which is based on Discrete Element Method (DEM). Each testing specimen had a thickness of 5 cm with 10 cm in diameter. The specimens' lengths varied as 2, 3, and 4 cm; and the specimens' notch angles varied as 0°, 45° and 90°. Similar semi-circular gypsum specimens were also prepared each contained one edge notch with angles 0° or 45°. The uniaxial testing machine was used to perform the experimental tests for both NBD and SCB gypsum specimens. At the same time, the numerical simulation of these tests were performed by PFC2D. The experimental results showed that the failure mechanism of rocks is mainly affected by the orientations of joints with respect to the loading directions. The failure mechanism and fracturing patterns of the gypsum specimens are directly related to the final failure loading. It has been shown that the number of induced tensile cracks showing the specimens' tensile behavior, and increases by decreasing the length and angle of joints. It should be noted that the fracture toughness of rocks' specimens obtained by NBD tests was higher than that of the SCB tests. The fracture toughness of rocks usually increases with the increasing of joints' angles but increasing the joints' lengths do not change the fracture toughness. The numerical solutions and the experimental results for both NDB and SCB tests give nearly similar fracture patterns during the loading process.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.49-62
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• 2022

Experimental and discrete element methods were used to investigate the effects of triple joints lengths and triple joint angle on the failure behavior of rock mass under uniaxial compressive test. Concrete samples with dimension of 20 cm × 20 cm × 5 cm were prepared. Within the specimen, three imbedded joint were provided. The joint lengths were 2 cm, 4cm and 6 cm. In constant joint lengths, the angle between middle joint and other joints were 30°, 60°, 90°, 120° and 150°. Totally 15 different models were tested under compression test. The axial load rate on the model was 0.05 mm/min. Concurrent with experimental tests, the models containing triple joints, length and joint angle are similar to the experiments, were numerical by Particle flow code in two dimensions (PFC2D). Loading rate in numerical modelling was 0.05 mm/min. Tensile strength of material was 1 MPa. The results show that the failure behaviors of rock samples containing triple joints were governed by both of the angle and the length of the triple joints. The uniaxial compressive strengths (UCS) of the specimens were related to the fracture pattern and failure mechanism of the discontinuities. Furthermore, it was shown that the compressive behavior of discontinuities is related to the number of the induced tensile cracks which are increased by decreasing the joint length. Along with the damage failure of the samples, the acoustic emission (AE) activities are excited. There were only a few AE hits in the initial stage of loading, then AE hits rapidly grow before the applied stress reached its peak. In addition, every stress drop was accompanied by a large number of AE hits. Finally, the failure pattern and failure strength are similar in both methods i.e., the experimental testing and the numerical simulation methods.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.8 no.1 s.27
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• pp.139-152
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• 2006

Many experimental and numerical approaches have been developed to evaluate paving materials and to predict pavement response and distress. Micromechanical simulation modeling is a technology that can reduce the number of physical tests required in material formulation and design and that can provide more details, e.g., the internal stress and strain state, and energy evolution and dissipation in simulated specimens with realistic microstructural features. A clustered distinct element modeling (DEM) approach was implemented In the two-dimensional particle flow software package (PFC-2D) to study the complex behavior observed in asphalt mixture fracturing. The relationship between continuous and discontinuous material properties was defined based on the potential energy approach. The theoretical relationship was validated with the uniform axial compression and cantilever beam model using two-dimensional plane strain and plane stress models. A bilinear cohesive displacement-softening model was implemented as an intrinsic interface and applied for both homogeneous and heterogeneous fracture modeling in order to simulate behavior in the fracture process zone and to simulate crack propagation. A disk-shaped compact tension test (DC(T)) with heterogeneous microstructure was simulated and compared with the experimental fracture test results to study Mode I fracture. The realistic arbitrary crack propagation including crack deflection, microcracking, crack face sliding, crack branching, and crack tip blunting could be represented in the fracture models. This micromechanical modeling approach represents the early developmental stages towards a 'virtual asphalt laboratory,' where simulations of laboratory tests and eventually field response and distress predictions can be made to enhance our understanding of pavement distress mechanisms, such its thermal fracture, reflective cracking, and fatigue crack growth.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.243-258
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• 2022

In this paper, tensile behavior of joint filling has been investigated under experimental test and numerical simulation (particle flow code). Two concrete slabs containing semi cylinder hole were prepared. These slabs were attached to each other by glue and one cubic specimen with dimension of 19 cm×15 cm×6 cm was prepared. This sample placed in the universal testing machine where the direct tensile stress can be applied to this specimen by implementing a special type of load transferring device which converts the applied compressive load to that of the tensile during the test. In the present work, two different joint filling thickness i.e., 3 mm and 6 mm were prepared and tested in the laboratory to measure their direct tensile strengths. Concurrent with experimental test, numerical simulation was performed to investigate the effect of hole diameter, length of edge notch, filling thickness and filling length on the tensile behavior of joint filling. Model dimension was 19 cm×15 cm. hole diameter was change in four different values of 2.5 cm, 5 cm, 7.5 cm and 10 cm. glue lengths were different based on the hole diameter, i.e., 12.5 cm for hole diameter of 2.5 cm, 10 cm for hole diameter of 5 cm, 7.5 cm for hole diameter of 7.5 cm and 5 cm for hole diameter of 10 cm. length of edge notch were changed in three different value i.e., 10%, 30% and 50% of glue length. Filling thickness were changed in three different value of 3 mm, 6 mm and 9 mm. Tensile strengths of glue and concrete were 2.37 MPa and 6.4 MPa, respectively. The load was applied at a constant rate of 1 kg/s. Results shows that hole diameter, length of edge notch, filling thickness and filling length have important effect on the tensile behavior of joint filling. In fixed glue thinks and fixed joint length, the tensile strength was decreased by increasing the hole diameter. Comparing the results showed that the strength, failure mechanism and fracture patterns obtained numerically and experimentally were similar for both cases.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1113-1124
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• 2018

Geological dynamic hazards during deep coal mining are caused by the failure of a composite system consisting of the rock and coal layers, whereas the joint in coal affects the stability of the composite system. In this paper, the compression test simulations for the rock-coal combined body with single joint in coal were conducted using $PFC^{2D}$ software and especially the effects of joint length and joint angle on strength and failure characteristics in a rock-coal combined body were analyzed. The joint length and joint angle exhibit a deterioration effect on the strength and affect the failure modes. The deterioration effect of joint length of L on the strength can be neglected with a tiny variation at ${\alpha}$ of $0^{\circ}$ or $90^{\circ}$ between the loading direction and joint direction. While, the deterioration effect of L on strength are relatively large at ${\alpha}$ between $30^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$. And the peak stress and peak strain decrease with the increase of L. Additionally, the deterioration effect of ${\alpha}$ on the strength becomes larger with the increase of L. With the increase of ${\alpha}$, the peak stress and peak strain first decrease and then increase, presenting "V-shaped" curves. And the peak stress and peak strain at ${\alpha}$ of $45^{\circ}$ are the smallest. Moreover, the failure mainly occurs within the coal and no apparent failure is observed for rock. At ${\alpha}$ between $30^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$, the secondary shear cracks generated in or close to the joint tips, cause the structural instability failure of the combined body. Therefore, their failure models present as a shear failure along partial joint plane direction and partially cutting across the coal body or a shear failure along the joint plane direction. However, at ${\alpha}$ of $60^{\circ}$ and L of 10 mm, the "V-shaped" shear cracks cutting across the coal body cause its final failure. While crack nucleations at ${\alpha}$ of $0^{\circ}$ or $90^{\circ}$ are randomly distributed in the coal, the failure mode shows a V-shaped shear failure cutting across the coal body.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1017-1027
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• 2018

To explore the influence of coal thickness on the mechanical behavior and the failure characteristics of rock-coal-rock (RCR) mass, the experimental investigation of uniaxial compressive tests was conducted first and then a systematic numerical simulation by particle flow code (PFC2D) was performed to deeply analyze the failure mechanical behavior of RCR specimens with different coal thicknesses in conventional compression tests. The overall elastic modulus and peak stress of RCR specimens lie between the rock and the coal. Inter-particle properties were calibrated to match the physical sample strength and the stiffness response. Numerical simulation results show that the deformation and strength behaviors of RCR specimens depend not only on the coal thickness, but also on the confining pressure. Under low confining pressures, the overall failure mechanism of RCR specimen is the serious damage of coal section when the coal thickness is smaller than 30 mm, but it is shear failure of coal section when the coal thickness is larger than 30 mm. Whereas under high confining pressures, obvious shear bands exist in both the coal section and the rock section when the coal thickness is larger than 30 mm, but when the coal thickness is smaller than 30mm, the failure mechanism is serious damage of coal section and shear failure of rock section.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.619-629
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• 2015

Influenced by various mining activities, fractures in rock masses have different densities, set numbers and lengths, which induce different mechanical properties and failure modes of rock masses. Therefore, precisely expressing the failure criterion of the fractured rock influenced by coal mining is significant for the support design, safety assessment and disaster prevention of underground mining engineering subjected to multiple mining activities. By adopting PFC2D particle flow simulation software, this study investigated the propagation and fractal evolution laws of the micro cracks occurring in two typical kinds of rocks under uniaxial compressive condition. Furthermore, it calculated compressive strengths of the rocks with different confining pressures and box-counting dimensions. Moreover, the quantitative relation between the box-counting dimension of the rocks and the empirical parameters m and s in Hoek-Brown strength criterion was established. Results showed that with the increase of the strain, the box-counting dimension of the rocks first increased slowly at the beginning and then exhibited an exponential increase approximately. In the case of small strains of same value, the box-counting dimensions of hard rocks were smaller than those of weak rocks, while the former increased rapidly and were larger than the latter under large strain. The results also presented that there was a negative correlation between the parameters m and s in Hoek-Brown strength criterion and the box-counting dimension of the rocks suffering from variable mining activities. In other words, as the box-counting dimensions increased, the parameters m and s decreased linearly, and their relationship could be described using first order polynomial function.