• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.343-349
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• 2022

This paper proposes a new topology optimization scheme to determine optimized joints for multi-component models. The joints are modeled as zero-length high-stiffness spring elements. The spring joints are considered as mesh-independent springs based on a joint-element interpolation scheme. This enables the changing of the location of the joints regardless of the connected nodes during optimization. Because the joints are movable, the locations of the optimized joints should be aggregated at several points. In this paper, the novel joint dispersal (JD) constraint to prevent joint clustering is proposed. With the joint dispersal constraint, it is possible to determine the optimized joint location as well as optimized topologies while maintaining the minimum distance between each joint. The mechanical compliance value is considered as the objective function. Several topology optimization examples are solved to demonstrate the effect of the joint dispersal constraint.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.2125-2133
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• 2013

Recently, an interest on joint behavior between adjacent concrete slab tracks has increasing due to large application of such track system. Dowel bars are widely used to improve load transfer capacity across the joints. Dowel bars reduce the deflections and stresses by transferring the load between the slabs. This study proposes the lumped shear spring model to efficiently model dowel joints of adjacent slabs. This model includes bearing stiffness between dowel bar and concrete as well as dowel gap. Strength of the proposed spring model is evaluated based on Concrete Capacity Design method under the assumption of shear failure mode in the joints. Experiments are also performed up to failure to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed model. It has been observed that the proposed model is able to predict initial nonlinearity due to dowel gap, and capture material nonlinearity of the test slabs. Thus, it is recommended that the proposed model can be effectively applied to the dowel joints of concrete slab track.