• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.681-692
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• 2020

Conventional Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters (CPEH) have been extensively studied for maximizing their electrical output through material selection, geometric and structural optimization, and adoption of efficient interface circuits. In this paper, the performance of Stepped Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (SPEH) under harmonic base excitation is studied analytically, numerically and experimentally. The motivation is to compare the energy harvesting performance of CPEH and SPEHs with the same characteristics (resonant frequency). The results of this study challenge the notion of achieving higher voltage and power output through incorporation of geometric discontinuities such as step sections in the harvester beams. A CPEH consists of substrate material with a patch of piezoelectric material bonded over it and a tip mass at the free end to tune the resonant frequency. A SPEH is designed by introducing a step section near the root of substrate beam to induce higher dynamic strain for maximizing the electrical output. The incorporation of step section reduces the stiffness and consequently, a lower tip mass is used with SPEH to match the resonant frequency to that of CPEH. Moreover, the electromechanical coupling coefficient, forcing function and damping are significantly influenced because of the inclusion of step section, which consequently affects harvester's output. Three different configurations of SPEHs characterized by the same resonant frequency as that of CPEH are designed and analyzed using linear electromechanical model and their performances are compared. The variation of strain on the harvester beams is obtained using finite element analysis. The prototypes of CPEH and SPEHs are fabricated and experimentally tested. It is shown that the power output from SPEHs is lower than the CPEH. When the prototypes with resonant frequencies in the range of 56-56.5 Hz are tested at 1 m/s2, three SPEHs generate power output of 482 μW, 424 μW and 228 μW when compared with 674 μW from CPEH. It is concluded that the advantage of increasing dynamic strain using step section is negated by increase in damping and decrease in forcing function. However, SPEHs show slightly better performance in terms of specific power and thus making them suitable for practical scenarios where the ratio of power to system mass is critical.

• Composites Research
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.23-29
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• 2021

탄소섬유는 단위 중량 당 높은 강도 및 모듈러스를 갖기 때문에 고성능 복합 재료 제조 시 탄소보강재로 많이 사용된다. 그러나 탄소 섬유를 제조하는 공정에서 많은 시간과 높은 에너지를 소모하여 제조비용이 크게 증가하기 때문에 상용화에 어려움을 겪고 있다. 따라서 생산 비용 절감을 위하여 제조 공정에 사용되는 에너지를 대체할 수 있는 고속의 저 에너지원을 적극적으로 찾아 연구할 필요가 높아졌다. 폴리아크릴로니트릴(PAN) 전구체(Precursor)로 상용화 된 탄소 섬유는 180~300℃의 대기 분위기에서 안정화 과정이 이루어지고, 1600℃ 이하의 불활성 가스 분위기에서 탄화하여 탄소 섬유를 생산할 수 있다. 이 두 공정은 많은 시간과 높은 에너지를 사용하지만, 고성능 탄소 섬유를 생산하는 데 필수적이며 중요하다. 따라서 최근에는 공정 시간을 단축하고 에너지 소비를 줄일 수 있는 플라즈마, 전자 빔 및 마이크로파와 같은 다양한 다른 에너지원을 보조적으로 사용 함으로써 저 에너지·고속 안정화 공정 기술이 시도되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 플라즈마 공정과 열처리를 연속적으로 수행하여 PAN 전구체 안정화 공정을 연구하였으며, 모폴로지, 구조적 변화, 열적 및 물리적 특성 변화를 연구하였다.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제43권6호
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• pp.785-796
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• 2022

Concrete-encased steel (CES) beam, in which structural steel is encased in a reinforced concrete (RC) section, is widely applied in high-rise buildings as transfer beams due to its high load-carrying capacity, great stiffness, and good durability. However, these CES beams are prone to shear failure because of the low shear span-to-depth ratio and the heavy load. Due to the high load-carrying capacity and the brittle failure process of the shear failure, the accurate strength prediction of CES beams significantly influences the assessment of structural safety. In current design codes, design formulas for predicting the shear strength of CES beams are based on the so-called "superposition method". This method indicates that the shear strength of CES beams can be obtained by superposing the shear strengths of the RC part and the steel shape. Nevertheless, in some cases, this method yields errors on the unsafe side because the shear strengths of these two parts cannot be achieved simultaneously. This paper clarifies the conditions at which the superposition method does not hold true, and the shear strength of CES beams is investigated using a compatible truss-arch model. Considering the deformation compatibility between the steel shape and the RC part, the method to obtain the shear strength of CES beams is proposed. Finally, the proposed model is compared with other calculation methods from codes AISC 360 (USA, North America), Eurocode 4 (Europe), YB 9082 (China, Asia), JGJ 138 (China, Asia), and AS/NZS 2327 (Australia/New Zealand, Oceania) using the available test data consisting of 45 CES beams. The results indicate that the proposed model can predict the shear strength of CES beams with sufficient accuracy and safety. Without considering the deformation compatibility, the calculation methods from the codes AISC 360, Eurocode 4, YB 9082, JGJ 138, and AS/NZS 2327 lead to excessively conservative or unsafe predictions.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제42권6호
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• pp.805-826
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• 2022

The free and live load-forced vibration behaviour of porous functionally graded (PFG) higher order nanobeams in the thermal and magnetic fields is investigated comprehensively through this work in the framework of nonlocal strain gradient theory (NLSGT). The porosity effects on the dynamic behaviour of FG nanobeams is investigated using four different porosity distribution models. These models are exploited; uniform, symmetrical, condensed upward, and condensed downward distributions. The material characteristics gradation in the thickness direction is estimated using the power-law. The magnetic field effect is incorporated using Maxwell's equations. The third order shear deformation beam theory is adopted to incorporate the shear deformation effect. The Hamilton principle is adopted to derive the coupled thermomagnetic dynamic equations of motion of the whole system and the associated boundary conditions. Navier method is used to derive the analytical solution of the governing equations. The developed methodology is verified and compared with the available results in the literature and good agreement is observed. Parametric studies are conducted to show effects of porosity parameter; porosity distribution, temperature rise, magnetic field intensity, material gradation index, non-classical parameters, and the applied moving load velocity on the vibration behavior of nanobeams. It has been showed that all the analyzed conditions have significant effects on the dynamic behavior of the nanobeams. Additionally, it has been observed that the negative effects of moving load, porosity and thermal load on the nanobeam dynamics can be reduced by the effect of the force induced from the directed magnetic field or can be kept within certain desired design limits by controlling the intensity of the magnetic field.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.165-183
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• 2022

Most transportation departments have recognized and developed procedures to address the ever-increasing weights of trucks traveling on bridges in a service today. Transportation agencies also recognize the issues with overheight vehicles' collisions with bridges, but few stakeholders have definitive countermeasures. Bridges are becoming more vulnerable to collisions from overheight vehicles. The exact response under lateral impact force is difficult to predict. In this paper, nonlinear impact analysis shows that the degree of deformation recorded through the modeling of the unprotected vehicle-girder model provides realistic results compared to the observation from the US-61 bridge overheight vehicle impact. The predicted displacements are 0.229 m, 0.161 m, and 0.271 m in the girder bottom flange (lateral), bottom flange (vertical), and web (lateral) deformations, respectively, due to a truck traveling at 112.65 km/h. With such large deformations, the integrity of an impacted bridge becomes jeopardized, which in most cases requires closing the bridge for safety reasons and a need for rehabilitation. We proposed different sacrificial cushion systems to dissipate the energy of an overheight vehicle impact. The goal was to design and tune a suitable energy absorbing system that can protect the bridge and possibly reduce stresses in the overheight vehicle, minimizing the consequences of an impact. A material representing a Sorbothane high impact rubber was chosen and modeled in ANSYS. Out of three sacrificial schemes, a sandwich system is the best in protecting both the bridge and the overheight vehicle. The mitigation system reduced the lateral deflection in the bottom flange by 89%. The system decreased the stresses in the bridge girder and the top portion of the vehicle by 82% and 25%, respectively. The results reveal the capability of the proposed sacrificial system as an effective mitigation system.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제44권5호
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• pp.619-632
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• 2022

There are numerous structural details (Longitudinal beam, web plate, U-ribs and I-ribs) in the top and bottom plates of steel box girders, which have significant influences on the longitudinal stress (normal stress) distribution. Clarifying the influence of these structural details on the normal stress distribution is important. In this paper, the ultra-wide steel box girder with large cantilevers of the Jinhai Bridge in China, which is the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world, has been analyzed. A 1:4.5 scale laboratory model of the steel box girder has been manufactured, and the influence of structural details on the normal stress distribution in the top and bottom plates for four different load cases has been analyzed in detail. Furthermore, a three-dimensional finite element model has been established to further investigate the influence regularity of structural details on the normal stress. The experimental and finite element analysis (FEA) results have shown that different structural details of the top and bottom plates have varying effects on the normal stress distribution. Notably, the U-ribs and I-ribs of the top and bottom plates introduce periodicity to the normal stress distribution. The period of the influence of U-ribs on the normal stress distribution is the sum of the single U-rib width and the U-rib spacing, and that of the influence of I-ribs on the normal stress distribution is equal to the spacing of the I-ribs. Furthermore, the same structural details but located at different positions, will have a different effect on the normal stress distribution.

• Composites Research
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.377-382
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• 2023

그래핀 기반 소자의 성능을 개선하기 위해서는 그래핀과 기판 사이의 계면 상호 작용을 이해하는 것이 중요하다. 본 연구에서는 유전체 기판에 놓인 단일층 그래핀의 접착에너지를 모드 I 시험을 통해 측정하였다. 메탄과 수소 가스 분위기에서 화학기상증착법(CVD)을 통해 구리 포일 위에 대면적 단일층 그래핀을 합성하였다. 합성한 그래핀을 폴리머를 이용한 습식 전사 공정을 통해 유전체 기판 위에 전사하였다. 이중외팔보 형상을 이용한 모드 I 시험을 통해 기판 위에 올려진 그래핀을 기계적으로 박리하였다. 이 때, 얻어지는 힘-변위 곡선을 분석하여 접착에너지를 평가하였는데, 산화실리콘 기판에 대해서는 1.13 ± 0.12 J/m², 질화실리콘 기판에 대해서는 2.90 ± 0.08 J/m²의 접착에너지를 나타냈다. 본 연구를 통해 유전체 기판 위에 올려진 CVD 그래핀의 계면 상호 작용력에 대해 정량적인 측정을 진행하였다.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.249-263
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• 2024

This article presents a comparative analysis of seismic behavior in steel-beam reinforced concrete column (RCS) frames versus steel and reinforced concrete frames. The study evaluates the seismic response and collapse behavior of RCS frames of varying heights through nonlinear modeling. RCS, steel, and reinforced concrete special moment frames are considered in three height categories: 5, 10, and 20 stories. Two-dimensional frames are extracted from the three-dimensional structures, and nonlinear static analyses are conducted in the OpenSEES software to evaluate seismic response in post-yield regions. Incremental dynamic analysis is then performed on models, and collapse conditions are compared using fragility curves. Research findings indicate that the seismic intensity index in steel frames is 1.35 times greater than in RCS frames and 1.14 times greater than in reinforced concrete frames. As the number of stories increases, RCS frames exhibit more favorable collapse behavior compared to reinforced concrete frames. RCS frames demonstrate stable behavior and maintain capacity at high displacement levels, with uniform drift curves and lower damage levels compared to steel and reinforced concrete frames. Steel frames show superior strength and ductility, particularly in taller structures. RCS frames outperform reinforced concrete frames, displaying improved collapse behavior and higher capacity. Incremental Dynamic Analysis results confirm satisfactory collapse capacity for RCS frames. Steel frames collapse at higher intensity levels but perform better overall. RCS frames have a higher collapse capacity than reinforced concrete frames. Fragility curves show a lower likelihood of collapse for steel structures, while RCS frames perform better with an increase in the number of stories.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.107-122
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• 2024

Following an internal column failure, adjacent double-span beams above the failed column will play a critical role in the load transfer and internal force redistribution within the remaining structure, and the span-to-depth ratios of double-span beams significantly influence the structural resistance capacity against progressive collapse. Most existing studies have focused on the collapse-resistant performances of single-story symmetric structures, whereas limited published works are available on the collapse resistances of multi-story steel frames with unequal spans. To this end, in this study, numerical models based on shell elements were employed to investigate the structural behavior of multi-story steel frames with unequal spans. The simulation models were validated using the previous experimental results obtained for single- and two-story steel frames, and the load-displacement responses and internal force development of unequal-span three-story steel frames under three cases were comprehensively analyzed. In addition, the specific contributions of the different mechanism resistances of unequal-span, double-span beams of each story were separated quantitatively using the energy equilibrium theory, with an aim to gain a deeper level of understanding of the load-resistance mechanisms in the unequal-span steel frames. The results showed that the axial and flexural mechanism resistances were determined by the span ratio and linear stiffness ratio of double-span beams, respectively.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.563-575
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• 2020

본 연구 목적은 컨테이너 보안 검색용 선형가속기에서 발생하는 방사화 특성을 평가하는 것이다. 전산모사 설계는 첫째, 표적은 텅스텐(Z=74) 단일물질 표적 및 텅스텐(Z=74)과 구리(Z=29) 복합물질 표적으로 구성하였다. 둘째, 부채꼴(Fan beam) 조준기는 물질에 따라 납(Z=82) 단일 물질과 텅스텐(Z-74)과 납(Z=82)의 복합물질로 구성하였다. 셋째 선형가속기가 위치한 방(Room)의 콘크리트는 Magnetite type 및 불순물(Impurity)을 포함하였다. 연구 방법은 첫째, MCNP6 코드를 이용하여 선형가속기 및 구조물을 F4 Tally로 광중성자 플럭스(Flux)를 계산하였다. 둘째, MCNP6 코드에서 계산된 광중성자 플럭스를 FISPACT-II에 적용하여 방사화 생성물을 평가하였다. 셋째, 방사화 생성물의 비방사능을 통해 해체 평가를 진행하였다. 그 결과 첫째, 광중성자 분포는 표적에서 가장 높게 나왔으며, 조준기 및 10 cm 깊이의 콘크리트 순으로 나타났다. 둘째, 방사화 생성물은 텅스텐 표적 및 조준기에서 W-181, 불순물이 포함된 콘크리트에서 Co-60, Ni-63, Cs-134, Eu-152, Eu-154 핵종이 부산물(by-product)로 생성되었다. 셋째, 해체 시 텅스텐 표적은 90일 이후 자체 처분 허용 농도를 만족하는 것으로 보였다. 이러한 결과는 9 MeV 에너지에서의 광중성자 수율(Yield) 및 방사화 정도가 미미한 것으로 확인할 수 있었다. 하지만, 선형가속기 텅스텐 표적 및 조준기에서 발생한 W-181은 수리를 위한 분해 시 피폭의 영향을 줄 수 있을 것으로 생각된다. 따라서, 본 연구는 컨테이너 보안검색용 선형가속기 방사화된 부품관리에 관한 기초 자료를 제시한 것이다. 또한, 컨테이너 보안 검색용 선형 가속기 해체 시 자체처분을 만족하는 농도 기준을 입증하는데 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대한다.