• International Journal of Safety
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.6-10
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• 2010

The flash point of liquid solution is one of the most important flammability properties that used in hazard and risk assessments. Minimum flash point behaviour (MFPB) is showed when the flash point of a liquid mixture is below the flash points of the individual components. In this paper, the lower flash points for the flammable binary system, n-decane+n-octanol, were measured by Pensky-Martens closed cup tester. This binary mixture exhibited MFPB. The measured flash points were compared with the values calculated by the Raoult's law and the optimization method using van Laar and UNIQUAC equations. The optimization method were found to be better than those based on the Raoult's law, and successfully estimated MFPB. The opimization method based on the van Laar equation described the experimentally-derived data more effectively than was the case when the prediction model was based upon the UNIQUAC.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2012

Objectives: Although evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a useful method for integrating evidence into the decision-making process of occupational physicians, occupational physicians lack EBM knowledge and skills, and do not have the time to learn the EBM method. In order to enable them to educate themselves at the time and place they prefer, we designed an electronic EBM course. We studied the feasibility and utility of the course as well as its effectiveness in increasing EBM knowledge, skills, and behaviour. Methods: Occupational physicians from various countries were included in a within-subjects study. Measurements were conducted on participants' EBM knowledge, skills, behaviour, and determinants of behaviour at baseline, directly after finishing the course and 2 months later (n = 36). The feasibility and utility of the course were evaluated directly after the course (n = 42). Results: The course is applicable as an introductory course on EBM for occupational physicians in various countries. The course is effective in enhancing EBM knowledge and self-efficacy in practising EBM. No significant effect was found on EBM skills, behaviour, and determinants of behaviour. After the course, more occupational physicians use the international journals to solve a case. Conclusion: An electronic introductory EBM course is suitable for occupational physicians. Although it is an effective method for increasing EBM knowledge, it does not seem effective in improving skills and behaviour. We recommend integrating e-learning courses with blended learning, where it can be used side by side with other educational methods that are effective in changing behaviour.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.80 no.5
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• pp.523-538
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• 2021

The mechanical behaviour and stability of coal mining engineering underground is significantly affected by ground water. In this study, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) technique was employed to determine the water distribution characteristics in coal specimens during saturation process, based on which the functional rule for water distribution was proposed. Then, using discrete element method (DEM), an innovative numerical modelling method was developed to simulate water-weakening effect on coal behaviour considering moisture content and water distribution. Three water distribution numerical models, namely surface-wetting model, core-wetting model and uniform-wetting model, were established to explore the water distribution influences. The feasibility and validity of the surface-wetting model were further demonstrated by comparing the simulation results with laboratory results. The investigation reveals that coal mechanical properties are affected by both water saturation coefficient and water distribution condition. For all water distribution models, micro-cracks always initiate and nucleate in the water-rich area and thus lead to distinct macro fracture characteristics. With the increase of water saturation coefficient, the failure of coal tends to be less violent with less cracks and ejected fragments. In addition, the core-wetting specimen is more sensitive to water than specimens with other water distribution models.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.517-532
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• 2020

This paper firstly developed a new type of Double Skin Composite (DSC) beams using novel enhanced C-channels (ECs). The shear behaviour of novel ECs was firstly studied through two push-out tests. Eleven full-scale DSC beams with ECs (DSCB-ECs) were tested under four-point loading to study their ultimate strength behaviours, and the studied parameters were thickness of steel faceplate, spacing of ECs, shear span, and strength of concrete core. Test results showed that all the DSCB-ECs failed in flexure-governed mode, which confirmed the effective bonding of ECs. The working mechanisms of DSCB-ECs with different parameters were reported, analysed and discussed. The load-deflection (or strain) behaviour of DSCB-ECs were also detailed reported. The effects of studied parameters on ultimate strength behaviour of DSCB-ECs have been discussed and analysed. Including the experimental studies, this paper also developed theoretical models to predict the initial stiffness, elastic stiffness, cracking, yielding, and ultimate loads of DSCB-ECs. Validations of predictions against 11 test results proved the reasonable estimations of the developed theoretical models on those stiffness and strength indexes. Finally, conclusions were given based on these tests and analysis.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.325-343
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• 2016

A total stress-based bounding surface model is developed to predict the undrained behaviour of saturated soft clays under cyclic loads based on the anisotropic hardening modulus field and bounding-surface theories. A new hardening rule is developed based on a new interpolation function of the hardening modulus that has simple mathematic expression and fewer model parameters. The evolution of hardening modulus field is described in the deviatoric stress space. It is assumed that the stress reverse points are the mapping centre points and the mapping centre moves with the variation of loading and unloading paths to describe the cyclic stress-strain hysteresis curve. In addition, by introducing a model parameter that reflects the accumulation rate and level of shear strain to the interpolation function, the cyclic shakedown and failure behaviour of soil elements with different combinations of initial and cyclic stresses can be captured. The methods to determine the model parameters using cyclic triaxial compression tests are also studied. Finally, the cyclic triaxial extension and torsional shear tests are performed. By comparing the predictions with the test results, the model can be used to describe undrained cyclic stress-strain responses of elements with different stress states for the tested clays.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Industrial Safety Conference
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.261-266
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• 1998

This paper presents a numerical simulation of the failure behaviour for the pipeline which has external corroded parts along the axis. The numerical study for the pipeline failure analysis is based on an FEM with an elastic-plastic and large-deformation. The predicted failure assessments for the simulated corrosion defects are compared with ANSI/ASME B31G code and a modified B31G method.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.223-228
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• 2000

The current slope stability analysis of a filldam is based on the limit equilibrium method, and in calculation of safety factor during earthquake, adopts the seismic intensity method in which it considers a uniform seismic force from dam foundation to crest. However the observed behaviour of filldam during earthquake shows some different behaviour in that at the crest the measured acceleration is usually several times the ground acceleration. In this study, slope stability calculations of a filldam are provided based on the modified seismic intensity method, which can take into account the amplification phenomena of acceleration in the upper part of dam. And also the results of calculations are compared with that of current seismic intensity method.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.308-313
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• 2018

Background: A behavior-based safety initiative card-issuing system was introduced at a cement-manufacturing company in Zimbabwe in 2008 to try and curb accident occurrence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Behaviour Based Safety Initiative card system as a tool used for reducing accident frequencies. Methods: A mixed-method approach that involving administering piloted questionnaires to 40 out of 244 randomly selected employees, making observations, and reviewing secondary data were done to collect data from different sources in the organization in 2013. A paired t-test was conducted to test whether there was significant difference in accident occurrence before and after the implementation of the BBSI. Scatterplots were also used to establish the correlation between the issuance of cards and the accident and injury occurrence. Results: The findings suggest that the introduction of the card system brought a significant decrease in accident and injury occurrence. A negative correlation between card issuance and accident occurrence was observed, i.e., the greater the number of cards issued, the fewer the number of accidents. It was also noted that the card system positively influenced the mindset of workers towards safe work practices. Conclusion: The card system had an influence on the reduction of accidents and injuries. The organization should leverage on issuing more cards to further reduce the number of accidents and injuries to zero.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.260-266
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• 2018

Cylindrical shells are often used in the construction of ship and land-based structures such as deck plating with a camber, side shell plating for fore and aft part pipes, as well as storage tanks. It has been believed that such curved shells can be modeled fundamentally as a part of the cylinder under axial compression. From the estimations made based on cylindrical models, it is known that in general, curvature increases the buckling strength of a curved shell when subjected to axial compression, and the same curvature is also expected to increase the overall strength. A series of elastic large deflection analyses were conducted in order to clarify the fundamentals observed in the buckling and post-buckling behaviour of circular cylinders under axial compression. In the present paper, an FE-series analysis has been performed based on the elastic large deflection behaviour, and the effect of parameters has been clarified. The ultimate strength behavior of the circular cylinder was found to be significantly influenced by both the initial deflection and the FE-modeling method.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.2395-2407
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• 2022

The sodium-cooled fast reactor is among the innovative nuclear technologies selected in the framework of the development of Generation IV concepts, allowing the irradiation of uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuels (MOX). A fundamental step for the safety assessment of MOX-fuelled pins for fast reactor applications is the evaluation, by means of fuel performance codes, of the integral thermal-mechanical behaviour under irradiation, involving the fission gas behaviour and release in the fuel-cladding gap. This work is dedicated to the performance analysis of an inner-core fuel pin representative of the ASTRID sodium-cooled concept design, selected as case study for the benchmark between the GERMINAL and TRANSURANUS fuel performance codes. The focus is on fission gas-related mechanisms and integral outcomes as predicted by means of the SCIANTIX module (allowing the physics-based treatment of inert gas behaviour and release) coupled to both fuel performance codes. The benchmark activity involves the application of both GERMINAL and TRANSURANUS in their "pre-INSPYRE" versions, i.e., adopting the state-of-the-art recommended correlations available in the codes, compared with the "post-INSPYRE" code results, obtained by implementing novel models for MOX fuel properties and phenomena (SCIANTIX included) developed in the framework of the INSPYRE H2020 Project. The SCIANTIX modelling includes the consideration of burst releases of the fission gas stored at the grain boundaries occurring during power transients of shutdown and start-up, whose effect on a fast reactor fuel concept is analysed. A clear need to further extend and validate the SCIANTIX module for application to fast reactor MOX emerges from this work; nevertheless, the GERMINAL-TRANSURANUS benchmark on the ASTRID case study highlights the achieved code capabilities for fast reactor conditions and paves the way towards the proper application of fuel performance codes to safety evaluations on Generation IV reactor concepts.