• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2017

Installation of sensors networks for continuous in-service monitoring of structures and their efficiency conditions is a current research trend of paramount interest. On-line monitoring systems could be strategically useful for road infrastructures, which are expected to perform efficiently and be self-diagnostic, also in emergency scenarios. This work researches damage detection in composite concrete-steel structures that are typical for highway overpasses and bridges. The techniques herein proposed assume that typical damage in the deck occurs in form of delamination and cracking, and that it affects the peak power spectral density of dynamic curvature. The investigation is performed by combining results of measurements collected by long-gauge fiber optic strain sensors installed on monitored structure and a statistic approach. A finite element model has been also prepared and validated for deepening peculiar aspects of the investigation and the availability of the method. The proposed method for real time applications is able to detect a documented unusual behavior (e.g., damage or deterioration) through long-gauge fiber optic strain sensors measurements and a probabilistic study of the dynamic curvature power spectral density.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.475-483
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• 2023

In this paper, a new energy-efficient semi-active hybrid bulk damper is developed that is cost-effective for use in structural applications. In this work, the possibility of active and semi-active component configurations combined with suitable control algorithms, especially vibration control methods, is explored. The equations of motion for a container bridge equipped with an MDOF Mass Tuned Damper (M-TMD) system are established, and the combination of excitation, adhesion, and control effects are performed by a proprietary package and commercial custom submodel software. Systematic methods for the synthesis of structural components and active systems have been used in many applications because of the main interest in designing efficient devices and high-performance structural systems. A rational strategy can be established by properly controlling the master injection frequency parameter. Simulation results show that the multiscale model approach is achieved and meets accuracy with high computational efficiency. The M-TMD system can significantly improve the overall response of constrained structures by modestly reducing the critical stress amplitude of the frame. This design can be believed to build affordable, safe, environmentally friendly, resilient, sustainable infrastructure and transportation.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.591-598
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• 2022

The article deals with the possibilities of vibration stimulation. Based on the stability analysis, a multi-scale approach with a modified whole-building model is implemented. The motion equation is configured for a controlled bridge with a MDOF (multiple dynamic degrees of freedom) Tuned Mass Damper (M-TMD) system, and a combination of welding, excitation, and control effects is used with its advanced packages and commercial software submodel. Because the design of high-performance and efficient structural systems has been of interest to practical engineers, systematic methods of structural and functional synthesis of control systems must be used in many applications. The smart method can be stabilized by properly controlling the high frequency injection limits. The simulation results illustrate that the multiple modeling method used is consistent with the accuracy and high computational efficiency. The M-TMD system, even with moderate reductions in critical pressure, can significantly suppress overall feedback on an unregulated design.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.799-813
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• 2020

Fatigue cracks of rib-to-deck (RD) joints have been frequently observed in the orthotropic steel decks (OSD) using conventional U-ribs (CU). Thickened edge U-rib (TEU) is proposed to enhance the fatigue strength of RD joints, and its effectiveness has been proved through fatigue tests. In-depth full-scale tests are further carried out to investigate both the fatigue strength and fractography of RD joints. Based on the test result, the mean fatigue strength of TEU specimens is 21% and 17% higher than that of CU specimens in terms of nominal and hot spot stress, respectively. Meanwhile, the development of fatigue cracks has been measured using the strain gauges installed along the welded joint. It is found that such the crack remains almost in semi-elliptical shape during the initiation and propagation. For the further application of TEUs, the design curve under the specific survival rate is required for the RD joints using TEUs. Since the fatigue strength of welded joints is highly scattered, the design curves derived by using the limited test data only are not reliable enough to be used as the reference. On this ground, an experiment-numerical hybrid approach is employed. Basing on the fatigue test, a probabilistic assessment model has been established to predict the fatigue strength of RD joints. In the model, the randomness in material properties, initial flaws and local geometries has been taken into consideration. The multiple-site initiation and coalescence of fatigue cracks are also considered to improve the accuracy. Validation of the model has been rigorously conducted using the test data. By extending the validated model, large-scale databases of fatigue life could be generated in a short period. Through the regression analysis on the generated database, design curves of the RD joint have been derived under the 95% survival rate. As the result, FAT 85 and FAT 110 curves with the power index m of 2.89 are recommended in the fatigue evaluation on the RD joint using TEUs in terms of nominal stress and hot spot stress respectively. Meanwhile, FAT 70 and FAT 90 curves with m of 2.92 are suggested in the evaluation on the RD joint using CUs in terms of nominal stress and hot spot stress, respectively.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.171-182
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• 2018

This paper presents an isogeometric discretization of Kirchhoff-Love thin shells using truncated hierarchical B-splines (THB-splines). It is demonstrated that the underlying basis functions are ideally appropriate for adaptive refinement of the so-called thin shell structures in the framework of isogeometric analysis. The proposed approach provides sufficient flexibility for refining basis functions independent of their order. The main advantage of local THB-spline evaluation is that it provides higher degree analysis on tight meshes of arbitrary geometry which makes it well suited for discretizing the Kirchhoff-Love shell formulation. Numerical results show the versatility and high accuracy of the present method. This study is a part of the efforts by the authors to bridge the gap between CAD and CAE.

• Composites Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.59-65
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• 2005

This report is on the Reinforcing System(MFRI) for Concrete Structure using FRP ROD & High-Performance Mortar. The main characteristic of this system is as follow. First, the fiber rods in this system have seven times greater tensile strength than general reinforcing steel bars(re-bar) and the weight is a fifth lighter. Camels coated on the fiber rods' surfaces to improve adhesive strength and pull-out strength. Second, high strength shotcrete mortar is has very good workability and low rebound rate. After installing the Fiber Rods, Shotcrete mortar Is applied or sprayed to finish reinforcement. Finally, MFRI system has excellent fire-resisting performance and sogood tolerance against external environment by inserting fiber rods and reinforcing materials into mortar which has high compressive strength. It is applied to bridge slab, utility box and tunnel of civil engineering works, and beam and slab of building structures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.445-455
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• 2009

This study proposes a system identification technique for a fiber-reinforced polymer deck with neural networks. Neural networks are trained for system identification and the identified structure gives training data in return. This process is repeated until the identified parameters converge. Hence, the proposed algorithm is called an iterative neural network scheme. The proposed algorithm also relies on recent developments in the experimental design of the response surface method. The proposed strategy is verified with known systems and applied to a fiber-reinforced polymer bridge deck with experimental data.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.95-103
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• 2018

Active vibration control via inertial mass actuators has been shown as an effective tool to significantly reduce human-induced vertical vibrations, allowing structures to satisfy vibration serviceability limits. However, a lot of practical obstacles have to be solved before experimental implementations. This has motivated simple control techniques, such as direct velocity feedback control (DVFC), which is implemented in practice by integrating the signal of an accelerometer with a band-pass filter working as a lossy integrator. This work provides practical guidelines for the tuning of DVFC considering the damping performance, inertial mass actuator limitations, such as stroke and force saturation, as well as the stability margins of the closed-loop system. Experimental results on a full scale steel-concrete composite structure (behaves similar to a footbridge) with adjustable span are reported to illustrate the main conclusions of this work.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.455-468
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• 2011

Although retrofitting and strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) columns by wrapping fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have become a popular technique in civil engineering, the study on reinforced high-strength concrete (HSC) columns is still not sufficient. The objective of these companion papers is to investigate the mechanical properties of reinforced HSC square columns confined by aramid FRP (AFRP) jackets under concentric compressive loading. In the part I of these companion papers, an experiment was conducted on 54 confined RC specimens and nine unconfined plain specimens, the considered parameters were the concrete strength, the thickness of AFRP jackets, and the form of AFRP wrapping. The experimental process and results are presented in detail. Subsequently, some discussions on the confinement effect, failure modes, strength, and ductility of the columns are carried out.

• Proceedings of the KAIS Fall Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.132-134
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• 2008

본 연구에서는 도로교 설계 기준 바탕으로 H-형강을 사용하여 20~30m 사이의 지간장을 가진 중 소규모 교량에 적용이 가능한 초간편 교량에 사용될 최적 H-형강 선정에 대한 설계 방법을 제시하고 있다. 본 연구는 구조적 안정성을 확보하고, 가로보를 생략한 단순구조를 갖으며, 도로교 설계 기준을 적용한 초간편 H-형강 교량의 경제적이고 합리적인 설계의 방법을 제공 하고 있다.