• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.37C no.10
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• pp.925-932
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• 2012

In this paper, we develop a pattern recognition algorithm applied to a humanoid robot which is exploited as a guide for visually handicapped persons to find a desired path to their destinations. Behavior primitives of a humanoid robot are defined, and Canny's edge detection algorithm is employed to extract the pattern and color of the paving blocks that especially devised for visually handicapped persons. Based on these, an efficient path finding algorithm is developed and implemented on a humanoid robot, running on an embedded linux operating system equipped with a video camera. The performance of our algorithm is experimentally examined in terms of the response time and the pattern recognition ratio. In order to validate our algorithm in various realistic environments, the experiments are repeatedly performed by changing the tilt of paving blocks and the brightness in surrounding area. The results show that our algorithm performs sufficiently well to be exploited as a path finding system for visually handicapped persons.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.181-190
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• 2019

Light-frame wood structures have the ability to carry gravity loads. However, their performance during severe wind storms has indicated weakness with respect to resisting uplift wind loads exerted on the roofs of residential houses. A common failure mode observed during almost all main hurricane events initiates at the roof-to-wall connections (RTWCs). The toe-nail connections typically used at these locations are weak with regard to resisting uplift loading. This issue has been investigated at the Insurance Research Lab for Better Homes, where full-scale testing was conducted of a house under appropriate simulated uplift wind loads. This paper describes the detailed and sophisticated numerical simulation performed for this full-scale test, following which the numerical predictions were compared with the experimental results. In the numerical model, the nonlinear behavior is concentrated at the RTWCs, which is simulated with the use of a multi-linear plastic element. The analysis was conducted on four sets of uplift loads applied during the physical testing: 30 m/sincreased by 5 m/sincrements to 45 m/s. At this level of uplift loading, the connections exhibited inelastic behavior. A comparison with the experimental results revealed the ability of the sophisticated numerical model to predict the nonlinear response of the roof under wind uplift loads that vary both in time and space. A further component of the study was an evaluation of the load sharing among the trusses under realistic, uniform, and code pressures. Both the numerical model and the tributary area method were used for the load-sharing calculations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

Steel-concrete composite walls have been proposed and developed for applications in various types of structures. The double-skin profiled composite walls, as a natural development of composite flooring, provide structural and architectural merits. However, adequate intermediate fasteners between profiled steel plates and concrete core are required to fully mobilize the composite action and to improve the structural behavior of the wall. In this research, two new types of fasteners (i.e., threaded rods and vertical plates) were proposed and three specimens with different fastener types or fastener arrangements were tested under axial compression. The experimental results were evaluated in terms of failure modes, axial load versus axial displacement response, strength index, ductility index, and load-strain relationship. It was found that specimen with symmetrically arranged thread rods sustained more stable axial strain than that with staggered arranged threaded rods. Meanwhile, vertical plates are more suitable for practical use since they provide stronger confinement to profiled steel plate and effectively prevent the steel plate from early local buckling, which eventually enhance the composite action and increase the axial compressive capacity of the wall. The calculation methods were then proposed and good agreement was observed between the test results and the predicted results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.2
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• pp.151-164
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• 2023

The latest earthquake's costly repairs and economic disruption were brought on by excessive residual drift. Self-centering systems are one of the most efficient ways in the current generation of seismic resistance system to get rid of and reduce residual drift. The mechanics and behavior of the self-centering system in response to seismic forces were impacted by a number of important factors. The amount of post-tensioning (PT) force, which is often employed for the standing posture after an earthquake, is the first important component. The energy dissipater element is another one that has a significant impact on how the self-centering system behaves. Using the damper as a replaceable and affordable tool and fuse in self-centering frames has been recommended to boost energy absorption and dampening of structural systems during earthquakes. In this research, the self-centering steel moment frame connections are equipped with cushion flexural dampers (CFDs) as an energy dissipator system to increase energy absorption, post-yielding stiffness, and ease replacement after an earthquake. Also, it has been carefully considered how to reduce permanent deformations in the self-centering steel moment frames exposed to seismic loads while maintaining adequate stiffness, strength, and ductility. After confirming the FE model's findings with an earlier experimental PT connection, the behavior of the self-centering connection using CFD has been surveyed in this study. The FE modeling takes into account strands preloading as well as geometric and material nonlinearities. In addition to contact and sliding phenomena, gap opening and closing actions are included in the models. According to the findings, self-centering moment-resisting frames (SF-MRF) combined with CFD enhance post-yielding stiffness and energy absorption with the least amount of permeant deformation in a certain CFD thickness. The obtained findings demonstrate that the effective energy dissipation ratio (β), is increased to 0.25% while also lowering the residual drift to less than 0.5%. Also, this enhancement in the self-centering connection with CFD's seismic performance was attained with a respectable moment capacity to beam plastic moment capacity ratio.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2020.12a
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• pp.75-84
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• 2020

Modular construction is a construction method whereby prefabricated volumetric units are produced in a factory and are installed on site to form a building block. The construction productivity can be substantially improved by the manufacturing and assembly of standardized modular units. 3D printing is a computer-controlled fabrication method first adopted in the manufacturing industry and was utilized for the automated construction of small-scale houses in recent years. Implementing 3D printing in the fabrication of modular units brings huge benefits to modular construction, including increased customization, lower material waste, and reduced labor work. Such implementation also benefits the large-scale and wider adoption of 3D printing in engineering practice. However, a critical issue for 3D printed modules is the loading capacity, particularly in response to horizontal forces like wind load, which requires a deeper understanding of the building structure behavior and the design of load-bearing modules. Therefore, this paper presents the state-of-the-art literature concerning recent achievement in 3D printing for buildings, followed by discussion on the opportunities and challenges for examining 3D printing in modular construction. Promising 3D printing techniques are critically reviewed and discussed with regard to their advantages and limitations in construction. The appropriate structural form needs to be determined at the design stage, taking into consideration the overall building structural behavior, site environmental conditions (e.g., wind), and load-carrying capacity of the 3D printed modules. Detailed finite element modelling of the entire modular buildings needs to be conducted to verify the structural performance, considering the code-stipulated lateral drift, strength criteria, and other design requirements. Moreover, integration of building information modelling (BIM) method is beneficial for generating the material and geometric details of the 3D printed modules, which can then be utilized for the fabrication.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.487-502
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• 2023

In the realm of nanotechnology, the nonlocal strain gradient theory takes center stage as it scrutinizes the behavior of spinning cantilever nanobeams and nanotubes, pivotal components supporting various mechanical movements in sport structures. The dynamics of these structures have sparked debates within the scientific community, with some contending that nonlocal cantilever models fail to predict dynamic softening, while others propose that they can indeed exhibit stiffness softening characteristics. To address these disparities, this paper investigates the dynamic response of a nonlocal cantilever cylindrical beam under the influence of external discontinuous dynamic loads. The study employs four distinct models: the Euler-Bernoulli beam model, Timoshenko beam model, higher-order beam model, and a novel higher-order tube model. These models account for the effects of functionally graded materials (FGMs) in the radial tube direction, giving rise to nanotubes with varying properties. The Hamilton principle is employed to formulate the governing differential equations and precise boundary conditions. These equations are subsequently solved using the generalized differential quadrature element technique (GDQEM). This research not only advances our understanding of the dynamic behavior of nanotubes but also reveals the intriguing phenomena of both hardening and softening in the nonlocal parameter within cantilever nanostructures. Moreover, the findings hold promise for practical applications, including drug delivery, where the controlled vibrations of nanotubes can enhance the precision and efficiency of medication transport within the human body. By exploring the multifaceted characteristics of nanotubes, this study not only contributes to the design and manufacturing of rotating nanostructures but also offers insights into their potential role in revolutionizing drug delivery systems.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.333-347
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• 2009

Many tower-supported steel stacks have been constructed in Japan, primarily for economic reasons. However the dynamic behavior of these stacks under a strong wind is not well known and the wind load design standard for this type of a stack has not yet been formulated. In light of this situation, we carried out wind response observation of an operating tower-supported steel stack with and without a tuned-mass damper. The observation revealed the performance of the tuned-mass damper installed on the stack in order to control the wind-induced vibration. Based on the observed data, we performed a wind tunnel test of a specimen of the stack. In this paper we report the results of the wind tunnel test and some comparisons with the results of observation. Our findings are as follows: 1) the tuned-mass damper installed on the specimen in the wind tunnel test worked as well as the one on the observed stack, 2) the amplitude of the vortex-induced vibration of the specimen corresponded approximately to that of the observed stack, and 3) correlation between Scruton number and reduced amplitude, y/d, (y is amplitude, d is diameter) was confirmed by both the wind tunnel test and the observed results.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers A
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.107-116
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• 2005

The paper addresses modeling and analysis of a grid-connected photovoltaic generation system (PV system). PSCAD/EMTDC, an industry standard simulation tool for studying the transient behavior of electric power system and apparatus, is used to conduct all aspects of model implementation and to carry out extensive simulation study. This paper is aimed at sharing with the PSCAD/EMTDC user community our user-defined model for PV system applications, which is not yet available as a standard model within PSCAD/EMTDC. An equivalent circuit model of a solar cell has been used for modeling solar array. A series of parameters required for array modeling have been estimated from general specification data of a solar module. A PWM voltage source inverter (VSI) and its current control scheme have been implemented. A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique is employed for drawing the maximum available energy from the PV array. Comprehensive simulation results are presented to examine PV array behaviors and PV system control performance in response to irradiation changes. In addition, dynamic responses of PV array and system to network fault conditions are simulated and analysed.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2020

Reinforced concrete (RC) buildings built in the 1980s are vulnerable to seismic behavior because they were designed without any consideration of seismic loads. These buildings have widely spaced transverse reinforcements and a short lap splice length of longitudinal reinforcements, which makes them vulnerable to severe damage or even collapse during earthquakes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of bidirectional lateral loads on RC columns with deficient reinforcement details. An experimental test was conducted for two full-scale RC column specimens. The test results of deficient RC columns revealed that bidirectional loading deteriorates the seismic capacity when compared with a column tested unidirectionally. Modeling parameters were extracted from the tested load-displacement response and compared with those proposed in performance-based design standards. The modeling parameters proposed in the standards underestimated the deformation capacity of tested specimens by nearly 50% and overestimated the strength capacity by 15 to 20%.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.341-351
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• 2020

Steel plate shear wall with self-centering energy dissipation braces (SPSW-SCEDB) is a lateral force-resisting system that exhibits flag-shaped hysteretic responses, which consists of two pre-pressed spring self-centering energy dissipation (PS-SCED) braces and a wall plate connected to horizontal boundary elements only. The present study conducted a series of cyclic tests to study the hysteretic performances of braces in SPSW-SCEDB and the effects of braces on the overall hysteretic characteristics of this system. The SPSW-SCEDB with PS-SCED braces only exhibits excellent self-centering capability and the energy loss caused by the large inclination angle of PS-SCED braces can be compensated by appropriately increasing the friction force. Under the combined effect of the two components, the SPSW-SCEDB exhibits a flag-shaped hysteretic response with large lateral resistance, good energy dissipation and self-centering capabilities. In addition, the wall plate is the primary energy dissipation component and the PS-SCED braces provide supplementary energy dissipation for system. The PS-SCED braces can provide up to 90% self-centering capability for the SPSW-SCEDB system. The compressive bearing capacity of the wall plate should be smaller than the horizontal remaining restoring force of the braces to achieve better self-centering effect of the system.