• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.363-370
• /
• 2021

In this paper, we presented an optimized crack and flexural strength analysis of a glass-fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebar, used as reinforcements for in-site railway concrete slabs. The insulation performance of a GFRP rebar has the advantage of avoiding the loss of signal current in an audio frequency (AF) track circuit. A full-scale experiment, and three-dimensional finite element simulation results were compared to validate our approaches. Parametric numerical results revealed that the diameters and arrangements of the GFRP rebar had a significant effect on the flexural strength and crack control performances of the concrete track slabs. The results of this study could serve as a benchmark for future guidelines in designing more efficient, and economical concrete slabs using the GFRP rebar.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.169-177
• /
• 2018

Glass fiber reinforced polyester (GFRP) composites are widely used as structural materials in harsh environment such as underground pipes, tanks and boat hulls, which requires long-term water resistance. Especially, these materials might be damaged due to delamination between gelcoat and composites through an osmotic process when they are immersed in water. In this study, GFRP laminates were prepared by surface treatment of UPE (unsaturated polyester) gelcoat by vacuum infusion process to improve the durability of composite materials used in underground pipes. The composite surface coated with gelcoat was examined for surface defects, cracking, and hardness change characteristics in water-immersion environments (different temperatures of $60^{\circ}C$, $75^{\circ}C$, and $85^{\circ}C$). The penetration depth of cracks was investigated by micro CT imaging according to water immersion temperature. It was confirmed that cracks developed into the composites material at $75^{\circ}C$ and $85^{\circ}C$ causing loss of durability of the materials. The point at which the initial crack initiated was defined as the failure time and the life expectancy at $23^{\circ}C$ was measured using the Arrhenius equation. The results from this study is expected to be applied to reliability evaluation of various industrial fields where gelcoat is applied such as civil engineering, construction, and marine industry.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.297-302
• /
• 2022

An exothermic oil absorbent sheet with calcium chloride crystals can be fabricated, by dipping a clean polypropylene fabric in calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid solution and drying it. The exothermic oil absorbent sheet applied to the seawater surface, releases heat by the dissociation of calcium chloride. The dissociation heat liquefies the solidified low-sulfur fuel oil at a low temperature, and converts it to a state at which it can be absorbed. The optimum mole concentrations of calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid required for the exothermic oil absorbent sheet, are 0.25 M and 0.5 M, respectively. The oil absorption capacity of the exothermic oil absorbent sheet for low sulfur fuel oil depends on the seawater temperature. But, it is highly excellent at 4.5-7.08 g/g at 10℃, the average seawater temperature during the winter in Korea. The exothermic oil absorbent sheet is an excellent alternative in absorbing low-sulfur fuel oil in winter and removing it from seawater.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 1983

This paper has concentrated on estimating the possibility and mathematical analysis for the application of BFB to the treatment of nightsoil with low dilution rate. The experiment for the study of this purpose was conducted by continuous type reactor at $20^{\circ}C$, varying F/M ratio from 0.12 to 0.37 and dilution ratio from 2 to 10, and in it provided matted reticulated polypropylene sheets for the solid supports. The obtained results showed that the application of BFB to the treatment of nightsoil would be more effective than any other biological treatment process. Also, it has observed that the optimum dilution ratio was about 5 times and the optimum HRT was about 17 hours, and then it was estimated that the reactor volume and the quantity of weak water could be reduced to the extent of 70 percent and 80 percent. The experimental results of BFB could be analysed by the mathematical models applied to complete mixing activated sludge process. The substrate removal rates which were obtained by McKinney's($K_m$) and EcKenfelder's($K_e$) equation was 1.784/hr and $2.0{\times}10l/mg{\cdot}day$, and substrate was removed very rapidly compared to those of conventional type biological treatment processes. The biomass yield coefficient($a_5$), the endogeneous respiration rate(b), the synthesis oxygen demand rate($a{_5}^{\prime}$), and the endogeneous respiration oxygen demand rate(b') were 0.349, 0.0237/day, 0.495 and 0.0336, respectively.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.323-328
• /
• 2002

Soil-steel structures have been used for the underpass, or drainage systems in the road embankment. This type of structures sustain external load using the correlations with the steel wall and engineered backfill materials. Buried flexible conduits made of corrugated steel plates for the coastal road was tested under vehicle loading to investigate the effects of live load. Testing conduits was a circular structure with a diameter of 6.25m. Live-load tests were conducted on two sections, one of which an attempt was made to reinforce the soil cover with the two layers of geo-gird. Hoop fiber strains of corrugated plate, normal earth pressures exerted outside the structure, and deformations of structure were instrumented during the tests. This paper describes the measured static and dynamic load responses of structure. Wall thrust by vehicle loads increased mainly at the crown and shoulder part of the conduit. However additional bending moment by vehicle loads was neglectable. The effectiveness of geogrid-reinforced soil cover on reducing hoop thrust is also discussed based on the measurements in two sections of the structure. The maximum thrusts at the section with geogrid-reinforced soil cover was 85-92% of those with un-reinforced soil cover in the static load tests of the circular structure; this confirms the beneficial effect of soil cover reinforcement on reducing the hoop thrust. However, it was revealed that the two layers of geogrid had no effect on reducing the overburden pressure at the crown level of structure. The obtained values of DLA decrease approximately in proportion to the increase in soil cover from 0.9m to 1.5m. These values are about 1.2-1.4 times higher than those specified in CHBDC.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.71-82
• /
• 2006

One of the most popular pre-reinforcement methods of tunnel heading in cohesionless soils would be the fore-polling of grouted pipes, known as RPUM (reinforced protective umbrella method) or UAM (umbrella arch method). This technique allows safe excavation even in poor ground conditions by creating longitudinal arch parallel to the tunnel axis as the tunnel advances. Some previous studies on the reinforcing effects have been performed using numerical methods and/or laboratory-based small scale model tests. The complexity of boundary conditions imposes difficulties in representing the tunnelling procedure in laboratory tests and theoretical approaches. Full-scale study to identify reinforcing effects of the tunnel heading has rarely been carried out so far. In this study, a large scale model testing for a tunnel in granular soils was performed. Reinforcing patterns considered are four cases, Non-Reinforced, Crown-Reinforced, Crown & Face-Reinforced, and Face-Reinforced. The behavior of ground and pipes as reinforcing member were fully measured as the surcharge pressure applied. The influences of reinforcing pattern, pipe length, and face reinforcement were investigated in terms of stress and displacement. It is revealed that only the Face-Reinforced has decreased sufficiently both vertical settlement in tunnel heading and horizontal displacement on the face. Vertical stresses along the tunnel axis were concentrated in tunnel heading from the test results, so the heading should be reinforced before tunnel advancing. Most of maximum axial forces and bending moments for Crown-reinforced were measured at 0.75D from the face. Also it should be recommended that the minimum length of the pipe is more than l.0D for crown reinforcement.