• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.692-704
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• 2023

This study analyzed 214 sports knee braces found on Chinese websites between October 2022 and November 2022 to assess product type (impact protection material, fastening method, and protection method), material composition, size, weight, and main characteristics. The product type was further categorized according to (1) use of hard guard and soft guard protection method; (2) cover type, strap type, and slip-on type fastening method; and (3) pressure type and support type protection method. It also noted the physical shock protection materials used, including foam (EVA or polyurethane) attached to joints as a buffer material and plastic (TPU or PP) that protects the user's knee from external impacts. The study found that the materials that primarily comprise sports knee braces are a combination of nylon, polyester, and neoprene. Additionally, it found that most sports knee braces available on the market are available in three sizes based on knee circumference: M (35-38cm), L (38-41cm), and XL (41-44cm), while some products are available in one size only. Furthermore, the majority of the 214 products studied weighed 200g, followed by 1,000g. Finally, in terms of product characteristics, many sports knee braces utilize ring-shaped silicone pads to distribute the load pressure on the knees or incorporate sturdy adhesive velcro to improve knee stability.

• Communications of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.247-257
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• 2024

We use the structure of skew braces to enhance the biquandle counting invariant for virtual knots and links for finite biquandles defined from skew braces. We introduce two new invariants: a single-variable polynomial using skew brace ideals and a two-variable polynomial using the skew brace group structures. We provide examples to show that the new invariants are not determined by the counting invariant and hence are proper enhancements.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.325-330
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• 2008

In this study 3- and 6-story flat plate structures designed only for gravity load are retrofitted with steel plates and braces and their seismic performances are evaluated to verify the effect of seismic retrofit. According to the analysis results obtained from nonlinear static analysis both the strength and stiffness are significantly enhanced as a result of the seismic retrofit. When buckling-restrained braces are used instead of conventional braces, the structures show more ductile behavior, especially in the 3-story structure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.70 no.5
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• pp.591-600
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• 2019

Steel tubular buckling controlled braces are well known as being simple, practical and cost-effective lateral force resisting systems. Although these system features have gained the attention of the researchers over the last decade, steel tubular buckling controlled braces currently have limited application. Indeed, only a few steel tubes tightly encased within each other exist in the steel industry. In this paper, a new and practical design method is proposed in order to better promote the widespeared application for current steel tubular buckling controlled brace applications. In order to reach this goal, a holed-adapter made with polyoxymethylene adaptable to all round and square steel sections, was developed to use as infiller. The research program presents designing, producing and displacement controlled cyclic loading tests of a conventional tubular brace and a buckling controlled composite brace. In addition, numerical analysis was carried out to compare the experimental results. As a result of the experimental studies, buckling was controlled up to 0.88 % drift ratio and the energy dissipation capacity of the conventional tubular brace increased 1.46 times due to the proposed design. The main conclusion of this research is that polyoxymethylene is a highly suitable material for the production of steel tubular buckling controlled braces.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.391-416
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• 2018

The purpose of this article is to strengthen concrete structures using buckling and non-buckling braces. Connection plates are modeled in three shapes including the effect of 1.5t hinge zone length, 2t one and without the zone (1.5t-CP, 2t-CP and WCP). According to the verification performed with ABAQUS software, the connection plates which are superior in ductility and strengthening are found. The results show adding steel braces in concrete moment frames increase the strength and stiffness of the structures up to about 12 and 3 times, respectively. The frame strength increased about 21 and 25 percent with considering the effect of 2t hinge length in connection plates compared to 1.5t-CPs and WCPs. Also the ductility of retrofitted frames with 2t-CP improved 2.06 times more than WCP ones. Thus, 2t-CP sample is the best choice for connecting steel braces to concrete moment frames for retrofitting them. Afterwards, optimum conditions for elemental coating in braces with no buckling are assessed. The length of concrete coatings could be reduced about 30 percent, and buckling did not occur. Therefore, the weight of restraining coating decreased, and its performance improved. It is worth noting that BRBs could be constructed with only steel materials, which have outer steel tubes too. In fact, only the square cross sections of the tube profiles are appropriate for removing the filler concrete, and the rectangular ones are prone to buckle around their weak axis.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1569-1582
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• 2015

This study explores the lateral deflections of diagonal braces in concentrically-braced earthquake-resisting frames. The performance of this widely-used system is often compromised by the flexural buckling of slender braces in compression. In addition to reducing the compressive resistance, buckling may also cause these members to undergo sizeable lateral deflections which could damage surrounding structural components. Different approaches have been used in the past to predict the mid-length lateral deflections of cyclically loaded steel braces based on their theoretical deformed geometry or by using experimental data. Expressions have been proposed relating the mid-length lateral deflection to the axial displacement ductility of the member. Recent experiments were conducted on hollow and concrete-filled circular hollow section (CHS) braces of different lengths under cyclic loading. Very slender, concrete-filled tubular braces exhibited a highly ductile response, undergoing large axial displacements prior to failure. The presence of concrete infill did not influence the magnitude of lateral deflection in relation to the axial displacement, but did increase the number of cycles endured and the maximum axial displacement achieved. The corresponding lateral deflections exceeded the deflections observed in the majority of the previous experiments that were considered. Consequently, predictive expressions from previous research did not accurately predict the mid-height lateral deflections of these CHS members. Mid-length lateral deflections were found to be influenced by the member non-dimensional slenderness (${\bar{\lambda}}$) and hence a new expression was proposed for the lateral deflection in terms of member slenderness and axial displacement ductility.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.21 no.2 s.34
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• pp.309-324
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• 1991

The author treated 3 class I malocclusion patients with the lingual appliance followed by the extraction of the 4 bicuspids. One of them was finished with the labial appliance at the final stage. The treatment results were acceptable and the patients had good tolerance to the lingual appliance without complaints in these cases. There were some problems in treatment on the lingual side both the patient and the practioner, but I think we can overcome them with the development of the orthodontic materials, the treatment technics & the increased clinical experience. Of course, we cannot treat all the patients with the lingual braces, but patients are carefully selected, lingual braces will be a valuable orthodontic appliance. In conclusion, the lingual braces have very good esthetic advantages, so the patients, especially in adults, who hesitate or refuse the orthodontic treatment due to the esthetic problem of the labial braces will get the motivation & the chance for the orthodontic treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Educational Facilities
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.21-28
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• 2012

This study proposes a procedure for evaluating the seismic performance and retrofit of a typical reinforced building (R/C) school buildings contructed in the 1980s. The procedure is derived from the Japanese Standard for Evaluation of Seismic Capacity of Existing Reinforced Concrete Buildings and Nonlinear Static Procedure (NSP) specified in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA 356). In this study, the Japanese Standard was applied for evaluating the additionally required seismic performance in the existing school building. Cast-in-place (CIP) reinforced concrete infill walls and steel braces were used to seismically retrofit the existing school building located in the region of Hongsung in Chungnam. In the pushover analysis, i.e NSP, the hinge properties of columns, beams, infill walls and steel braces were carefully calibrated based on the existing experiment results in the available literatures. The predicted seismic performance for the retrofitted building was compared to that for the virgin building. Based on the seismic evaluation with the Japanese Standard and the FEMA 356 criteria, the addition of CIP reinforced concrete infill walls and steel braces have superior constructablility and can improve effectively the seismic performance of the existing school buildings constructed in 1980s.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.501-506
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• 1997

This is to investigate the physical properties of the commercially available Soft, Thomas, Minerva, and Philadelphia cervical braces which are widely used in orthopedics, neurosurgery, and rehabilitation medicine clinics as assisting devices or physical stabilization of cervical vertebrates, to use as a basic data or designing new type brace. Tensile strengths were observed by universal mechanical measuring device and Thomas brace required the highest stress to break by tensile stress. Durabilities against continuous frictional forces were also determined, and Minerva brace demonstrated the longest frictional time until being perforated. and Thomas/minerva braces are superior to the other braces in the effect of the material property on the skin tissue, as the animal test. According to these results, polyethylene is recommendable as a frame and preparation of pores in the material is favorable to provide ventilation to skin.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 2018

'Seismic Performance Evaluation Method for Existing Buildings (2013)' developed in accordance with the overseas guidelines ASCE 41 - 06 is the most widely used procedure among domestic seismic performance evaluation guidelines in Korea. However, unlike ASCE 41 - 06, it stipulates that the final performance should be derived as the gravity load distribution ratio of the lateral force resistance system in the guideline. Therefore, in the case of a dual steel structure system with slender braces, where the internal moment frame is mostly responsible for the gravity load, the evaluation of slender braces based on gravity load distribution ratio is difficult to be achieved. In this research, we propose an objective evaluation process for such system by evaluating seismic performance for large-scale factory facilities as an example.