• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.9-15
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• 1991

This study is directed for the development of rational rating models for realistic safety assessment and the computer rating system for highway bridges. For this purpose, the conventional rating system is considerably improved in appropriate way, and a rational rating system based on the reliabilty method is proposed to estimate safety of deteriorated bridges by using only the visual inspection data or the statistical data available. In addition. the rating system which can assess the realistic allowable passing tonnage of military vehicles in case of the military operations is also presented. From this study, it is known that the presented rating system and the computer program BRS(Bridge Rating System) provide an effective tool which can handle the degree of deterioration and various uncertainities of the bridge systematically. so it can be used widely for assessment of safety and load carrying capacity of existing deteriorated or damaged bridges.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.751-767
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• 2015

A new procedure is proposed for assessing probabilistic condition of structures considering effect of measured data uncertainty. In this procedure, multiple Finite Element (FE) models are identified by using weighting vectors that represent the uncertainty conditions of measured data. The distribution of structural parameters is analysed using a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in relation to uncertainty conditions, and the identified models are classified into groups according to their similarity by using a K-means method. The condition of a structure is then assessed probabilistically using FE models in the classified groups, each of which represents specific uncertainty condition of measured data. Yeondae bridge, a steel-box girder expressway bridge in Korea, is used as an illustrative example. Probabilistic condition of the bridge is evaluated by the distribution of load rating factors obtained using multiple FE models. The numerical example shows that the proposed method can quantify uncertainty of measured data and subsequently evaluate efficiently the probabilistic condition of bridges.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.661-670
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• 2014

A new DC/DC converter with zero voltage switching is proposed for applications with high input voltage and high load current. The proposed converter has two circuit modules that share load current and power rating. Interleaved pulse-width modulation (PWM) is adopted to generate switch control signals. Thus, ripple currents are reduced at the input and output sides. For high-voltage applications, each circuit module includes two half-bridge legs that are connected in series to reduce switch voltage rating to $V_{in}/2$. These legs are controlled with the use of asymmetric PWM. To reduce the current rating of rectifier diodes and share load current for high-load-current applications, two center-tapped rectifiers are adopted in each circuit module. The primary windings of two transformers are connected in series at the high voltage side to balance output inductor currents. Two series capacitors are adopted at the AC terminals of the two half-bridge legs to balance the two input capacitor voltages. The resonant behavior of the inductance and capacitance at the transition interval enable MOSFETs to be switched on under zero voltage switching. The circuit configuration, system characteristics, and design are discussed in detail. Experiments based on a laboratory prototype are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed converter.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.89-104
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• 2015

In current bridge management systems (BMSs), load and speed restrictions are applied on unhealthy bridges to keep the structure safe and serviceable for as long as possible. But the question is, whether applying these restrictions will always decrease the internal forces in critical components of the bridge and enhance the safety of the unhealthy bridges. To find the answer, this paper for the first time in literature, looks into the design aspects through studying the changes in demand by capacity ratios of the critical components of a bridge under the train loads. For this purpose, a structural model of a simply supported bridge, whose dynamic behaviour is similar to a group of real railway bridges, is developed. Demand by capacity ratios of the critical components of the bridge are calculated, to identify their sensitivity to increase of speed and magnitude of live load. The outcomes of this study are very significant as they show that, on the contrary to what is expected, by applying restriction on speed, the demand by capacity ratio of components may increase and make the bridge unsafe for carrying live load. Suggestions are made to solve the problem.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.470-475
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• 2000

This research covers the resting of precast/prestressed concrete I-Girder bridge. The research was designed to examine processes for improving the condition evaluation and rating of prestressed concrete bridge. To establish procedures that allow for the full utilization of prestressed concrete bridge capacity, a 28-year old sample was loaded to failure in site. The bridge was constructed with 12 spans, and girders of each span were simply supported. At each loading stage, the deflections, reinforcement strains, prestressing wire strains and concrete strains were examined. Failure behavior was analyzed, and failure load was also evaluated. The test results wee compared to the analytical results from the non-linear finite element analysis.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1990.04a
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• pp.37-43
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• 1990

This paper develops practical models and methods for the assessment of safety and rating of damaged and/or deteriorated bridges by incorporating a system identification technique for the explicit inclusion of the degree of deterioration or damage and of the actual bridge response. And, based on the proposed model, reliability-based rating methods are proposed as LRFR(Load and Resistance Factor Rating) and system reliability-index rating criteria. The proposed limit state model explicitly accounts for the degree of deterioration or damage in terms of the damage and response factors. The damage factor in the paper is proposed as the ratio of the current stiffness to the intact stiffness. Based on the observation and the results of applications to existing bridges, it may be concluded that the proposed rating models, which explicitly account for the uncertainties and the effects of degree of deterioration or damage based on the system identification technique, provide more realistic and consistent safety-assessment and capacity-rating.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.99-117
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• 2015

The Stonecutters Bridge (SCB) in Hong Kong is the third-longest cable-stayed bridge in the world with a main span stretching 1,018 m between two 298 m high single-leg tapering composite towers. A Wind and Structural Health Monitoring System (WASHMS) is being implemented on SCB by the Highways Department of The Hong Kong SAR Government, and the SCB-WASHMS is composed of more than 1,300 sensors in 15 types. In order to establish a linkage between structural health monitoring and maintenance management, a Structural Health Rating System (SHRS) with relevant rating tools and indices is devised. On the basis of a 3D space frame finite element model (FEM) of SCB and model updating, this paper presents the development of an SHR-oriented 3D multi-scale FEM for the purpose of load-resistance analysis and damage evaluation in structural element level, including modeling, refinement and validation of the multi-scale FEM. The refined 3D structural segments at deck and towers are established in critical segment positions corresponding to maximum cable forces. The components in the critical segment region are modeled as a full 3D FEM and fitted into the 3D space frame FEM. The boundary conditions between beam and shell elements are performed conforming to equivalent stiffness, effective mass and compatibility of deformation. The 3D multi-scale FEM is verified by the in-situ measured dynamic characteristics and static response. A good agreement between the FEM and measurement results indicates that the 3D multi-scale FEM is precise and efficient for WASHMS and SHRS of SCB. In addition, stress distribution and concentration of the critical segments in the 3D multi-scale FEM under temperature loads, static wind loads and equivalent seismic loads are investigated. Stress concentration elements under equivalent seismic loads exist in the anchor zone in steel/concrete beam and the anchor plate edge in steel anchor box of the towers.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.107-120
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• 1987

This study is directed for the evolution of the rational approaches to the systematic evaluation of the load carrying capacity of bridges based on the practical and second moment reliability methods. A new approach for the evaluation of load carrying capacity of exsisting bridges is proposed in this study. The key idea behind this approach is in the fact that the load carrying capacity of an existing bridges under extreme traffic truck loadings may be measured by evaluating and classifying the reliability state of the bridge in terms of reliability index(${\beta}$). The rating formulas developed in this study are applied for the evaluation of load carrying capacity of the several actual deteriorated bridges inspected and tested for the capacity rating, and the results are compared with those calculated by using the current rating formulas. It may be concluded that the proposed rating formulas which is derived based on reliability methods, have to eventually replace the current rating formula when the basic statistical data for the resistance and load effects become available in the near future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.187-196
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• 2003

Today, the Working Stress Rating (WSR) is being widely used for the capacity-rating and the safety assessment of railroad steel bridges. Since it cannot incorporate the uncertainties, several studies have been carried out in order to get over the incompleteness of the conventional capacity-rating and safety assessment. A system reliability-based equivalent capacity-rating method, which can evaluate the capacity of existing bridges, has been recently proposed. For more efficient reliability analysis, probabilistic parameters of the random variables in the limit-state models should be reasonably evaluated. Especially, uncertainties for live load effects must be realistically included. In this study, an improved limit-state model was used for the system reliability-based equivalent strength method. This model can incorporate the probabilistic parameters obtained from ambient measurement data. To demonstrate the applicability of the improved system reliability-based equivalent capacity rating method, this was applied to the existing steel plate girder bridge for comparison with the conventional capacity-rating and safety assessment.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.139-150
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• 2017

The structural strain plays a significant role in structural condition assessment of in-service bridges in terms of structural bearing capacity, structural reliability level and entire safety redundancy. Therefore, it has been one of the most important parameters concerned by researchers and engineers engaged in structural health monitoring (SHM) practices. In this paper, an SHM system instrumented on the Jiubao Bridge located in Hangzhou, China is firstly introduced. This system involves nine subsystems and has been continuously operated for five years since 2012. As part of the SHM system, a total of 166 fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors are installed on the bridge to measure the dynamic strain responses of key structural components. Based on the strain monitoring data acquired in recent two years, the strain-based structural condition assessment of the Jiubao Bridge is carried out. The wavelet multi-resolution algorithm is applied to separate the temperature effect from the raw strain data. The obtained strain data under the normal traffic and wind condition and under the typhoon condition are examined for structural safety evaluation. The structural condition rating of the bridge in accordance with the AASHTO specification for condition evaluation and load and resistance factor rating of highway bridges is performed by use of the processed strain data in combination with finite element analysis. The analysis framework presented in this study can be used as a reference for facilitating the assessment, inspection and maintenance activities of in-service bridges instrumented with long-term SHM system.