• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• 제35권5호
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• pp.475-486
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• 2023

Ballast particles have an irregular shape and are discrete in nature. Due to the discrete nature of ballast, it exhibits complex mechanical behaviour under loading conditions. The discrete element method (DEM) can model the behaviour of discrete particles under a multitude of loading conditions. DEM is used in this paper to simulate a series of three-dimensional direct shear tests in order to investigate the shear behaviour of railway ballast and its interaction at the microscopic level. Particle flow code in three dimension (PFC3D) models the irregular shape of ballast particles as clump particles. To investigate the influence of particle size distribution (PSD), real PSD of Indian railway ballast specification IRS:GE:1:2004, China high-speed rail (HSR) and French rail specifications are generated. PFC3D built-in linear contact model is used to simulate the interaction of ballast particles under various normal stresses, shearing rate and shear box sizes. The results indicate how shear resistance and volumetric changes in ballast assembly are affected by normal stress, shearing rate, PSD and shear box size. In addition to macroscopic behaviour, DEM represents the microscopic behaviour of ballast particles in the form of particle displacement at different stages of the shearing process.

• 한국지진공학회논문집
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

For important structures such as nuclear power plants, In-Structure Response Spectrum (ISRS) analysis is essential because it evaluates the safety of equipment and components installed in the structure. Because most structures are asymmetric, the response can be affected by eccentricity. In the case of seismically isolated structures, this effect can be greater due to the difference between the center of mass of the structure and the center of rigidity of the isolator layer. Therefore, eccentricity effects must be considered when designing or evaluating the ISRS of seismically isolated structures. This study investigated the change of the ISRS of an isolated structure by assuming accidental eccentricity. The variables that affect the ISRS of the isolated structure were analyzed to see what additional impact they had due to eccentricity. The ISRS of the seismically isolated structure with eccentricity was amplified more than when there was non-eccentricity, and it was boosted more significantly in specific period ranges depending on the isolator's initial stiffness and seismic intensity. Finally, whether the displacement requirement of isolators can be applied to the variation of the ISRS due to eccentricity in the design code was also examined.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.31-39
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• 2024

The reliability-based seismic design of steel frames is a complex process that incorporates seismic demand with a structural capacity to attain safe buildings aligned with specified constraints. This paper introduces an efficient base shear force formulation to support the reliability-based design process of steel frames. The introduced base shear force equation combines the seismic demand statistics with the reliability objective to calculate a fictitious base shear force for linear static analysis. By concentrating on the seismic demand and promising to meet a certain level of reliability, the equation converts the reliability-based seismic design problem to a deterministic one. Two code-compliant real-size steel moment frames are developed according to different reliability objectives to demonstrate the competency of the proposed formula. The nonlinear dynamic analysis method is used to assess the seismic reliability of the constructed frames, and the numerical results validate the credibility of the suggested formulation. The base shear force calculation method regarding seismic reliability is the main finding of this study. The ease of use makes this approach a potent tool for design professionals and stakeholders to make rapid risk-informed decisions regarding steel moment frame design.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• 제19권5호
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• pp.421-434
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• 2019

It is of great significance to study the mechanical properties and failure mechanism of the defected rock for geological engineering. The defected sandstone modeling with power-law distribution of pre-cracks was built in this paper by Particle Flow Code software. Then the mechanical properties of sandstone and the corresponding failure process were meticulously analyzed by changing the power-law index (PLI) and the number of pre-cracks (NPC). The results show that (1) With the increase of the PLI, the proportion of prefabricated long cracks gradually decreases. (2) When the NPC is the same, the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of sandstone increases with the PLI; while when the PLI is the same, the UCS decreases with the NPC. (3) The damage model of rock strength is established based on the Mori-Tanaka method, which can be used to better describe the strength evolution of damaged rock. (4) The failure mode of the specimen is closely related to the total length of the pre-crack. As the total length of the pre-crack increases, the failure intensity of the specimen gradually becomes weaker. In addition, for the specimens with the total pre-crack length between 0.2-0.55 m, significant lateral expansion occurred during their failure process. (5) For the specimens with smaller PLI in the pre-peak loading process, the concentration of the force field inside is more serious than that of the specimens with larger PLI.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.65-78
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• 2012

An experimental study was carried out to evaluate fresh properties of a moderately high-strength (high-flowing) self-compacting concrete (SCC) and to investigate shear behavior and performance of deep beams made with SCC. Fresh and hardened properties of normal concrete (NC) and SCC were evaluated. The workability and compacting ability were observed based on casting time and number of surface cavities, respectively. Four-point loading tests on four deep beams (two made with SCC and two with NC) were then conducted to investigate their shear behavior and performance. Shear behavior and performance of beams having two different web reinforcements in shear were systematically investigated in terms of crack pattern, failure mode, and load-deflection response. It was found from the tests that the SCC specimen having a normal shear reinforcement condition exhibited a slightly higher load carrying capacity than the corresponding NC specimen, while the SCC specimen having congested shear reinforcement condition showed a similar load carrying capacity to the corresponding NC specimen. In addition, a comparative study between the present experimental results and theoretical results in accordance with ACI 318 (Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete (ACI 318-89) and Commentary-ACI 318R-89, 1999), Hsu-Mau's explicit method (Hsu, Cem Concr Compos 20:419-435, 1998; Mau and Hsu, Struct J Am Concr Inst 86:516-523, 1989) and strut-and-tie model suggested by Uribe and Alcocer (2002) based on ACI 318 Appendix A (2008) was carried out to assess the applicability of the aforementioned methods to predict the shear strength of SCC specimens.

• 한국지진공학회논문집
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.77-85
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• 2017

Pseudo-static approach has been conventionally applied for the design of gravity quay walls. In this method, the decision to select an appropriate seismic coefficient ($k_h$) is an important one, since $k_h$ is a key variable for computing an equivalent pseudo-static inertia force. Nonetheless, there is no unified standard for defining $k_h$. Likewise, port structure designers in Korea have a difficulty in choosing an appropriate $k_h$ definition, as there are conflicts in how $k_h$ is defined between the existing seismic code of port structures and the proposed new one. In this research, various seismic design codes for port structures were analyzed to compare the definitions of the seismic coefficient. The results were used for the proposing a unified seismic coefficient definition. Further, two dynamic centrifuge tests were performed with different wall heights (5 m, 15 m) to clarify the reference point of peak acceleration used in determination of $k_h$ according to the wall height. Results from dynamic centrifuge experiments showed that correction factors for the peak ground acceleration considering both the wall height and allowable displacement are needed to calculate $k_h$.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.401-411
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• 2020

The paper describes the influence of pile reinforcement on the stability of the slope behaviour, and the exploitation of the results of in situ measurements will be conducted. In the second part, a 2D numerical modelling will be conducted by using the finite element code PLAXIS2D; in order to validate the proposed modelling approach by comparing the numerical results with the measurements results carried out on the slides studied; to study the effect of positioning of piles as a function of the shear parameters of the supported soil on the behaviour of the soil. For various shear strength of the soil a row of pile position is found, at which the piles offer the maximum contribution to slope stability. The position of piles is found to influence the safety factor in granular soil whereas it shows a slight influence on the safety factor in coherent soil. The results also indicate that the ideal position for such stabilizing piles is in the middle height of the slope. Comparison of results of present study with literature from publication: indicated that to reach the maximum stability of slope, the pile must be installed with L_x/L ratio (0.37 to 0.62) and the inclination must be between 30° to 60°. Even, after a certain length of the pile, the increasing will be useless. The application of the present approach to such a problem is located at the section of PK 210+480 to 210+800 of the Algerian East-West Highway.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.423-442
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• 2015

The effects of accidental eccentricity on the seismic response of four-storey steel buildings laterally stabilized by buckling restrained braced frames are studied. The structures have a square, symmetrical footprint, without inherent eccentricity between the center of lateral resistance (CR) and the center of mass (CM). The position of the bracing bents in the buildings was varied to obtain three different levels of torsional sensitivity: low, intermediate and high. The structures were designed in accordance with the seismic design provisions of the 2010 National Building Code of Canada (NBCC). Three different analysis methods were used to account for accidental eccentricity in design: (1) Equivalent Static Procedure with static in-plane torsional moments assuming a mass eccentricity of 10% of the building dimension (ESP); (2) Response Spectrum Analysis with static torsional moments based on 10% of the building dimension (RSA-10); and (3) Response Spectrum Analysis with the CM being displaced by 5% of the building dimension (RSA-5). Time history analyses were performed under a set of eleven two-component historical records. The analyses showed that the ESP and RSA-10 methods can give appropriate results for all three levels of torsional sensitivity. When using the RSA-5 method, adequate performance was also achieved for the low and intermediate torsional sensitivity cases, but the method led to excessive displacements (5-10% storey drifts), near collapse state, for the highly torsionally sensitive structures. These results support the current provisions of NBCC 2010.

• 콘크리트학회논문집
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.727-734
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• 2007

철근과 fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)의 물리적, 역학적 특성의 차이 및 슬래브 상부 보강재의 기둥 인접부 집중 배근, 그리고 기둥 인접부 슬래브에 강섬유 콘크리트 (SFRC)의 타설 등에 따른 2방향 슬래브의 펀칭 전단 거동에 대한 효과를 평가하였다. 펀칭 전단강도, 강성, 연성, 변형률 분포 그리고 균열 제어 성능 등을 파악하였다. 실험 결과 기둥 인접부의 슬래브에 집중 배근을 하거나 SFRC를 타설하는 것은 glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) 바로 보강된 슬래브의 펀칭 전단 거동을 향상시켰다. 기둥 인접 구역에 집중 배근된 슬래브의 실험 결과를 다양한 설계기준과 타 연구자에 의해 제안된 예측식과 비교하였으며, 집중 배근으로 인한 이점을 예측식에 반영할 수 있도록 집중 배근된 슬래브의 철근비를 산정하는 합리적인 방법도 제안하였다.

• 콘크리트학회논문집
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.15-23
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• 2012

이 논문은 철근콘크리트 구조부재의 사용성능 검증을 위한 균열폭과 처짐을 산정할 수 있는 새로운 계산 방법을 제안하고 이를 자동으로 계산할 수 있는 프로그램을 개발한 것이다. 이를 위하여 콘크리트의 재료특성을 포물-사각형 응력-변형률 곡선으로 반영한 철근응력과 피복두께의 영향을 반영한 인장증강 계수를 이용한 곡률을 계산할 수 있는 수치 모델링을 실시하였다. 이와 함께 균열폭과 처짐을 계산하는데 필요한 인장증강효과와 유효인장단면적은 균열이 발생한 휨부재 단면의 인장영역을 인장 현재로 이상화하여 정의하였다. 그리고 수정된 인장증강 계수를 이용하여 유효곡률을 계산하였다. 제안된 균열폭과 처짐 산정 방법을 이용하여 여러 연구자들이 수행한 실험 자료를 계산한 결과, 현행 설계기준들의 규정보다 실험값을 비교적 정확하게 예측하는 것으로 나타났다.