• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.243-260
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• 2024

Thirteen self-compacting recycled concrete filled aluminium tubular (SCRCFAT) columns were tested under concentric compression loads. The effects of the replacement ratio of the recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and steel fibre (SF) reinforcement on the structural performance of the SCRCFAT columns were studied. A control specimen (C000) was cast with normal concrete without SF to be reference for comparison. Twelve columns were cast using RCA, six columns were cast using concrete incorporating 2% SF while the rest of columns were cast without SF. Failure mode, ductility, ultimate load capacity, axial deformation, ultimate strains, stress-strain response, and stiffness of the SCRCFAT columns were studied. The results showed that, the peak load of tested SCRCFAT columns incorporating 5-100 % RCA without SF reduced by 2.33-11.28 % compared to that of C000. Conversely, the peak load of tested SCRCFAT columns incorporating 5-100% RCA in addition to 2% SF increased by 21.1-40.25%, compared to C000. Consequently, the ultimate axial deformation (Δ) of column C100 (RCA=100% and SF 0%) increased by about 118.9 % compared to C000. The addition of 2% SF to the concrete mix decreased the axial deformation of SCRCFAT columns compared to those cast with 0% SF. Moreover, the stiffness of the columns cast without SF decreased as the RCA % increased. In contrast, the columns stiffness cast with 2% SF increased by 26.28-89.7 % over that of C000. Finally, a theoretical model was proposed to predict the ultimate loads tested SCRCFAT columns and the obtained theoretical results agreed well with the experimental results.

• Composites Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.132-138
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• 2024

In this study, a molecular dynamics simulation study was performed to investigate the size-dependent electroelastic properties of single-walled boron nitride nanotubes(BNNT). To describe the elasticity and polarization of BNNT under mechanical loading, the Tersoff potential model and rigid ion approximation were adopted. For the prediction of piezoelectric constants and Young's modulus of BNNTs, piezoelectric constitutive equations based on the Maxwell's equation were used to calculate the strain-electric displacement and strain-stress relationships. It was found that the piezoelectric constants of BNNTs gradually decreases as the radius of the tubes increases showing a nonnegligible size effect. On the other hand, the elastic constants of the BNNTs showed opposites trends according to the equivalent geometrical assumption of the tubular structures. To establish the structure-property relationships, localized configurational change of the primarily bonded B-N bonded topology was investigated in detail to elucidate the BNNT curvature dependent elasticity.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.31-43
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• 2024

A very widely used analytical method (mathematical model), mentioned in Eurocode 3, to examine the connections' bending behavior is the component-based method that has certain weak points shown in the plastic behavior part of the moment-rotation curves. In the component method available in Eurocode 3, for simplicity, the effect of strain hardening is omitted, and the bending behavior of the connection is modeled with the help of a two-line diagram. To make the component method more efficient and reliable, this research proposed its advanced version, wherein the plastic part of the diagram was developed beyond the guidelines of the mentioned Regulation, implemented to connect the end plate, and verified with the moment-rotation curves found from the laboratory model and the finite element method in ABAQUS. The findings indicated that the advanced component method (the method developed in this research) could predict the plastic part of the moment-rotation curve as well as the conventional component-based method in Eurocode 3. The comparison between the laboratory model and the outputs of the conventional and advanced component methods, as well as the outputs of the finite elements approach using ABAQUS, revealed a different percentage in the ultimate moment for bolt-extended end-plate connections. Specifically, the difference percentages were -31.56%, 2.46%, and 9.84%, respectively. Another aim of this research was to determine the optimal dimensions of the end plate joint to reduce costs without letting the mechanical constraints related to the bending moment and the resulting initial stiffness, are not compromised as well as the safety and integrity of the connection. In this research, the thickness and dimensions of the end plate and the location and diameter of the bolts were the design variables, which were optimized using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Snake Optimization (SO), and Teaching Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO) to minimization the connection cost of the end plate connection. According to the results, the TLBO method yielded better solutions than others, reducing the connection costs from 43.97 to 17.45€ (60.3%), which shows the method's proper efficiency.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.135-143
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• 2024

Once the foundation displacement of the transmission tower occurs, additional stress will be generated on the tower members, which will affect the seismic response of transmission tower-line systems (TTLSs). Furthermore, existing research has shown that the reciprocating slippage of joints needs to be considered in the seismic analysis. The hysteretic behavior of joints is obtained by model tests or numerical simulations, which leads to the low modeling efficiency of TTLSs. Therefore, this paper first utilized numerical simulation and model tests to construct a BP neural network for predicting the skeleton curve of joints, and then a numerical model for a TTLS considering the bolt slippage was established. Then, the seismic response of the TTLS under foundation displacement was studied, and the member stress changes and the failed member distribution of the tower were analyzed. The influence of foundation displacement on the seismic performance were discussed. The results showed that the trained BP neural network could accurately predict the hysteresis performance of joints. The slippage could offset part of the additional stress caused by foundation settlement and reduce the stress of some members when the TTLS with foundation settlement was under earthquakes. The failure members were mainly distributed at the diagonal members of the tower leg adjacent to the foundation settlement and that of the tower body. To accurately analyze the seismic performance of TTLSs, the influence of foundation displacement and the joint effect should be considered, and the BP neural network can be used to improve modeling efficiency.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.145-163
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• 2024

This paper presents six novel hybrid machine learning (ML) models that combine support vector machines (SVM), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting (GB), extreme gradient boosting (XGB), and categorical gradient boosting (CGB) with the Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) algorithm. These models, namely HHO-SVM, HHO-DT, HHO-RF, HHO-GB, HHO-XGB, and HHO-CGB, are designed to predict the ultimate strength of both rectangular and circular reinforced concrete (RC) columns. The prediction models are established using a comprehensive database consisting of 325 experimental data for rectangular columns and 172 experimental data for circular columns. The ML model hyperparameters are optimized through a combination of cross-validation technique and the HHO. The performance of the hybrid ML models is evaluated and compared using various metrics, ultimately identifying the HHO-CGB model as the top-performing model for predicting the ultimate shear strength of both rectangular and circular RC columns. The mean R-value and mean a20-index are relatively high, reaching 0.991 and 0.959, respectively, while the mean absolute error and root mean square error are low (10.302 kN and 27.954 kN, respectively). Another comparison is conducted with four existing formulas to further validate the efficiency of the proposed HHO-CGB model. The Shapely Additive Explanations method is applied to analyze the contribution of each variable to the output within the HHO-CGB model, providing insights into the local and global influence of variables. The analysis reveals that the depth of the column, length of the column, and axial loading exert the most significant influence on the ultimate shear strength of RC columns. A user-friendly graphical interface tool is then developed based on the HHO-CGB to facilitate practical and cost-effective usage.

• Clean Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.68-75
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the structure and properties of a highly heat conductive metal-ceramic core-shell CoAl₂O₄@Al micro-composite for heterogeneous catalysts support. The CoAl₂O₄@Al was prepared by hydrothermal surface oxidation of Al metal powder, which resulted in the structure with a high heat conductive Al metal core encapsulated by a high surface area CoAl₂O₄ shell. For comparison, CoAl₂O₄ was also prepared by co-precipitation method and also utilized for a catalyst support. Rh catalysts supported on CoAl₂O₄@Al and CoAl₂O₄ were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation and characterized by N₂ adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), CO chemisorption, and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). The properties of catalysts were investigated for glycerol steam reforming reaction for hydrogen production at 550 ℃. Rh/CoAl₂O₄@Al exhibited about 2.8 times higher glycerol conversion turnover frequency (TOF) than Rh/CoAl₂O₄ due to facilitated heat transport through the core-shell structure. The CoAl₂O₄@Al and CoAl₂O₄ also showed some catalytic activities due to a partial reduction of Co on the support, and a higher catalytic activity was also found on the CoAl₂O₄@Al core-shell than CoAl₂O₄. These catalysts, however, displayed deactivation on the reaction stream due to carbon deposition on the catalysts surface.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.297-305
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze stress distribution and maximum von Mises stress generated in intracoronal restorations and in tooth structures of mandibular molars with various types of cavity designs and materials. Materials and Methods: Three-dimensional solid models of mandible molar such as O inlay cavity with composite and gold (OR-C, OG-C), MO inlay cavity with composite and gold (MR-C, MG-C), and minimal invasive cavity on occlusal and proximal surfaces (OR-M, MR-M) were designed. To simulate masticatory force, static axial load with total force of 200 N was applied on the tooth at 10 occlusal contact points. A finite element analysis was performed to predict stress distribution generated by occlusal loading. Results: Restorations with minimal cavity design generated significantly lower values of von Mises stress (OR-M model: 26.8 MPa; MR-M model: 72.7 MPa) compared to those with conventional cavity design (341.9 MPa to 397.2 MPa). In tooth structure, magnitudes of maximum von Mises stresses were similar among models with conventional design (372.8 - 412.9 MPa) and models with minimal cavity design (361.1 - 384.4 MPa). Conclusion: Minimal invasive models generated smaller maximum von Mises stresses within restorations. Within the enamel, similar maximum von Mises stresses were observed for models with minimal cavity design and those with conventional design.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.287-307
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• 2012

The study area, which is located in the southeastern part of the Jirisan province of the Yeongnam massif, Korea, consists mainly of the Precambrian Hadong northern anorthosite complex (HNAC) and the Jirisan metamorphic rock complex (JMRC) and the Mesozoic granitoids which intrude them. Its tectonic frame is built into NS trend, unlike the general NE-trending tectonic frame of Korean Peninsula. This paper researched the structural characteristics at each deformation phase to clarify the geological structures associated with the NS-trending tectonic frame which was built in the HNAC and JMRC. The result indicates that the geological structures of this area were formed at least through three phases of deformation. (1) The $D_1$ deformation formed the $F_1$ sheath or "A"-type folds in the HNAC and JMRC, and the $S_{0-1}$ composite foliation and the $S_1$ foliation and the $D_1$ ductile shear zone which are (sub)parallel to the axial plane of $F_1$ fold, and the $L_1$ stretching lineation which is parallel to the $F_1$ fold axis owing to the large-scale top-to-the SE shearing on the $S_0$ foliation. (2) The $D_2$ deformation (re)folded the $D_1$ structural elements under the EW-trending tectonic compression environment, and formed the NS-trending $F_2$ open, tight, isoclinal, intrafolial folds with the $S_{0-1-2}$ composite foliation and the $S_2$ foliation and the $D_2$ ductile shear zone with S-C-C' structure and the $L_2$ stretching lineation which is (sub)parallel to the axial plane of $F_2$ fold. The extensive $D_2$ ductile shear zone (Hadong shear zone) of NS trend was persistently developed along the eastern boundary of HNAC and JMRC which would be to the limb of $F_2$ fold on a geological map scale. The Hadong shear zone is no less than 1.4 km width, and was formed in the mylonitization process which produced the mylonitic structure and the stretching lineation with the reduction of grain size during the $F_2$ passive folding. (3) The $D_3$ deformation formed the EW-trending $F_3$ kink or open fold under the NS-trending tectonic compression environment and partially rearranged the NS-trending pre-$D_3$ structural elements into (E)NE or (W)NW direction. The regional trend of $D_1$ tectonic frame before the $D_2$ deformation would be NE-SW unlike the present, and the NS-trending tectonic frame in the HNAC and JMRC like the present was formed by the rearrangement of the $D_1$ tectonic frame owing to the $F_2$ active and passive folding. Based on the main intrusion age of (N)NE-trending basic dyke in the study area, these three deformation events are interpreted to have occurred before the Late Paleozoic.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.18-28
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to develop a new seismic resistant method by using precast concrete wall panels for existing low-rise, reinforced concrete beam-column buildings such as school buildings. Three quasi-static hysteresis loading tests were performed on one unreinforced beam-column specimen and two reinforced specimens with U-type precast wall panels. The results were analyzed to find that the specimen with anchored connection experienced shear failure, while the other specimen with steel plate connection principally manifested flexural failure. The ultimate strength of the specimens was determined to be the weaker of the shear strength of top connection and flexural strength at the critical section of precast panel. In this setup of U-type panel specimens, if a push loading is applied to the reinforced concrete column on one side and push the precast concrete panel, a pull loading from upper shear connection is to be applied to the other side of the top shear connection of precast panel. Since the composite flexural behavior of the two members govern the total behavior during the push loading process, the ultimate horizontal resistance of this specimen was not directly influenced by shear strength at the top connection of precast panel. However, the RC column and PC wall panel member mainly exhibited non-composite behavior during the pull loading process. The ultimate horizontal resistance was directly influenced by the shear strength of top connection because the pull loading from the beam applied directly to the upper shear connection. The analytical result for the internal shear resistance at the connection pursuant to the anchor shear design of ACI 318M-11 Appendix-D, agreed with the experimental result based on the elastic analysis of Midas-Zen by using the largest loading from experiment.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2009

In the seismic region, non-ductile structures often form soft story and exhibit brittle collapse. However, structure demolition and new structure construction strategies have serious problems, as construction waste, environmental pollution and popular complain. And these methods can be uneconomical. Therefore, to satisfy seismic performance, so many seismic retrofit methods have been investigated. There are some retrofit methods as infill walls, steel brace, continuous walls, buttress, wing walls, jacketing of column or beam. Among them, the infilled frames exhibit complex behavior as follows: flexible frames experiment large deflection and rotations at the joints, and infilled shear walls fail mainly in shear at relatively small displacements. Therefore, the combined action of the composite system differs significantly from that of the frame or wall alone. Purpose of research is evaluation on the seismic performance of infill walls, and improvement concept of this paper is use of SHCCs (strain-hardening cementitious composites) to absorb damage energy effectively. The experimental investigation consisted of cyclic loading tests on 1/3-scale models of infill walls. The experimental results, as expected, show that the multiple crack pattern, strength, and energy dissipation capacity are superior for SHCC infill wall due to bridging of fibers and stress redistribution in cement matrix.