• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.74-85
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• 2016

Seismic design of modular structures is usually carried out under the assumption that their load-carrying mechanism is similar to that of traditional steel moment-resisting frames(SMRFs). However, the load carry mechanism of modular structures would be different with that of traditional SMRFs because of their overlapped structural elements and complicated details of connections for the assembly of the unit-modules. In this study, nonlinear static analyses of 3 and 5-story prototype modular structures have been carried out with four different analytical models, which are established in consideration for the effects of overlapped elements and the hysteretic behavior of connections. Prototype structures present different lateral stiffness and strength depending on the modeling of overlapped elements and the rotational behavior of connections. For modular structures designed under assumption that overlapped structural elements are fully composite each other and connections between unit-modules are fixed, their lateral strength and stiffness can be over-estimated. Furthermore, it is known from the analysis results that modular structures with more than 3-stories would possess relatively low overstrength compared to traditional SMRFs.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.427-435
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• 2020

Modular structures are relatively lightweight compared to reinforced-concrete or steel structures. However, it is difficult to achieve structural integrity between the columns of unit modules in a modular structure, which causes undesirable effects on the lateral force resistance capacity against wind and earthquake loads. This is more prominent in modular structures whose overall heights are greater. Hence, a post-tensioned modular structural system is proposed herein to improve the lateral force resistance capacity of a typical modular structure. A post-tensioned column-base connection, which is the main component of the proposed modular structural system, is configured with shapes and characteristics that allow inducing self-centering behaviors. Finite element analysis was then performed to investigate the hysteretic behaviors of the post-tensioned column-base connection. The analysis results show that the hysteretic behaviors are significantly affected by the initial tension forces and beam-column connection details at the base.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.663-672
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• 2014

Recently, modular structural systems have been applicable to building construction since they can significantly reduce building construction time. They consists of several unit modular frames of which each beam-column joint employs an access hole for connecting unit modular frames. Their structural design is usually carried out under the assumption that their load-carrying mechanism is similar to that of a traditional steel moment-resisting system. In order to obtain the validation of this assumption, the cyclic characteristics of beam-column joints in a unit modular frame should be investigate. This study carried out finite element analyses(FEM) of unit modular frames to investigate the cyclic behavior of beam-column joints with the structural influence of access holes. Analysis results show that the unit modular frames present stable cyclic response with large deformation capacities and their joints are classified into partial moment connections. Also, this study develops a simple spring model for earthquake nonlinear analyses and suggests the Ramberg-Osgood hysteretic rule to capture the cyclic response of unit modular frames.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.65-71
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• 2008

The object of this paper is to evaluate on constructability of modular steel frame with the hollow structural steel section to LEB C-shape. A modular building is built with factory-manufacture and site-construction. The advantage of a Modular building presents that enhanced building quality, shortened construction period and easy at an expansion and enlargement for buildings but also has demerits such as size restriction of the modular units according to the Road Traffic Law and Inflexibility of the unit composition. So in this study we use light-weighted structure members with bolted joint for easy Knock-down and traffic, also we evaluated the constructability of this bolted joints type modular buildings.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.255-265
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• 2013

The major goal of this study is to develop the industrialized structural system that can build high-rise buildings using the box-shaped steel frames such as a unit module system. In order to achieve such a goal, we need the advanced details for joints that consist in a single unit. Furthermore we also need to commercialize the unit modular building system through the basic experiments, research of theoretical analysis and the achievement of seismic performance. This study derived to develop the derails in the beam-to-column joint and to carry out structural performance test. Test results, a joint with thickness of 6.0T can be possible to maintain the plastic rotational angle for strength and seismic performance. Therefore, joint with thickness of 6.0T is able to apply when considering reinforcement in the local of stress concentration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.519-530
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• 2013

Cyclic tests on modular building units for low-rise buildings composed of stud panels and a light-weight steel perimeter frame, were performed to evaluate the earthquake resistance such as stiffness, load-carrying capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation per load cycle. The strap-braced and sheeted stud panels were used as the primary lateral load-resistant element of the modular building units. Test results showed that the modular building units using the strap-braced and sheeted stud panels exhibited excellent post-yield ductile behaviors. The maximum drift ratios were greater than 5.37% and the displacement ductility ratios were greater than 5.76. However, the energy dissipation per load cycle was poor due to severe pinching during cyclic loading. Nominal strength, stiffness, and yield displacement of the modular building units were predicted based on plastic mechanisms. The predictions reasonably and conservatively correlated with the test results. However, the elastic stiffness of the strap-braced stud panel was significantly overestimated. For conservative design, the elastic stiffness of the strap-braced stud panel needs be decreased to 50% of the nominal value.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 2008

The object of this paper is to evaluate on behavior the experimentally of beam-to-column joints for modular steel frame with the hollow structural steel section to LEB C-shape. Beam-to-column joints carried out test on the joint shape bracket-type and welded-type to consideration which the joints for modular steel frame was capacity, deformation and failure mode. Test of results, the beam-column joints decided to the lateral buckling strength in LEB C-shape regardless of joint-shape and joint failure. The strength & stiffness for joints increase as the bracket-thickness. The results from theory of lateral buckling are compared to the experimental results. The ratio of experimental results to theory value is $0.83{\sim}0.95$ in the case of bracket-type and welded-type of $0.87{\sim}0.9$, indicating an accurate and safe estimation.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.89-99
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• 2010

Military Barracks and Bachelor Officer's Quarters are public buildings representing architectural characteristics with repeating the same room modules. These buildings require easy dismantling and reusing for the next generation' military re-organization. For these reasons, since 2005, the modular construction has been applied to military buildings. The most important factors required for modular military buildings are standardization, lowcost construction and reusable construction method. However, conventional modular building system have not been matched with these requirements. This study suggests a new modular system for Bachelor Officer's Quarters using Six-sigma design tool. To reflect the voices of customers, market study and surveys were carried out. Through the QFD, the voices of customers were converted into quality characteristics of building system for BOQ. The various design concepts meeting customer's requirement were derived by the QFD and Pugh matrix methodology. The proposed modular building system shows 80% increased factory production rate and 62% decreased weight of steel frame as compared with the conventional modular building system.