• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.305-313
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• 2019

Background: The oil and gas industry is one of the riskiest industries for confined space injuries. This study aimed to understand an overall picture of the causal factors of confined space accidents through analyzing accident reports and the use of a qualitative approach. Methods: Twenty-one fatal occupational accidents were analyzed according to the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System approach. Furthermore, thirty-three semistructured interviews were conducted with employees in different roles to capture their experiences regarding the contributory factors. The content analyses of the interview transcripts were conducted using MAXQDA software. Results: Based on accident reports, the largest proportions of causal factors (77%) were attributed to the organizational and supervisory levels, with the predominant influence of the organizational process. We identified 25 contributory factors in confined space accidents that were causal factors outside of the original Human Factors Analysis and Classification System framework. Therefore, modifications were made to deal with factors outside the organization and newly explored causal factors at the organizational level. External Influences as the fifth level considered contributory factors beyond the organization including Laws, Regulations and Standards, Government Policies, Political Influences, and Economic Status categories. Moreover, Contracting/Contract Management and Emergency Management were two extra categories identified at the organizational level. Conclusions: Preventing confined space accidents requires addressing issues from the organizational to operator level and external influences beyond the organization. The recommended modifications provide a basis for accident investigation and risk analysis, which may be applicable across a broad range of industries and accident types.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.83 no.4
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• pp.515-535
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• 2022

The strength models for fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)-confined normal strength concrete (NC) cylinders available in the literature have been suggested based on small databases using limited variables of such structural members portraying less accuracy. The artificial neural network (ANN) is an advanced technique for precisely predicting the response of composite structures by considering a large number of parameters. The main objective of the present investigation is to develop an ANN model for the axial strength of FRP-confined NC cylinders using various parameters to give the highest accuracy of the predictions. To secure this aim, a large experimental database of 313 FRP-confined NC cylinders has been constructed from previous research investigations. An evaluation of 33 different empirical strength models has been performed using various statistical parameters (root mean squared error RMSE, mean absolute error MAE, and coefficient of determination R²) over the developed database. Then, a new ANN model using the Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) has been proposed based on the experimental database that portrayed the highest performance as compared with the previous models with R²=0.92, RMSE=0.27, and MAE=0.33. Therefore, the suggested ANN model can accurately capture the axial strength of FRP-confined NC cylinders that can be used for the further analysis and design of such members in the construction industry.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.89 no.6
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• pp.579-588
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• 2024

The present paper investigates the curvature ductility of confined reinforced concrete (RC) beams with normal (NSC) and high strength concrete (HSC). For the purpose of predicting the curvature ductility factor, an analytical model was developed based on the equilibrium of internal forces of confined concrete and reinforcement. In this context, the curvatures were calculated at first yielding of tension reinforcement and at ultimate when the confined concrete strain reaches the ultimate value. To best simulate the situation of confined RC beams in flexure, a modified version of an ancient confined concrete model was adopted for this study. In order to show the accuracy of the proposed model, an experimental database was collected from the literature. The statistical comparison between experimental and predicted results showed that the proposed model has a good performance. Then, the data generated from the validated theoretical model were used to train the artificial neural network (ANN) prediction model. The R² values for theoretical and experimental results are equal to 0.98 and 0.95, respectively which proves the high performance of the ANN model. Finally, a parametric study was implemented to analyze the effect of different parameters on the curvature ductility factor using theoretical and ANN models. The results are similar to those extracted from experiments, where the concrete strength, the compression reinforcement ratio, the yield strength, and the volumetric ratio of transverse reinforcement have a positive effect. In contrast, the ratio and the yield strength of tension reinforcement have a negative effect.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1994.10a
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• pp.301-305
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• 1994

Experimental research was carried out to investigate the confinement effect of concrete specimens confined by single spirals subjected to the concentric axial compressive load. Main variables are the compressive strength of concrete, the spacing of the spiral reinforcement and the yield strength of the spiral reinforcement. Axial stress-strain curves are reported.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.369-376
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• 2019

Ship hydrodynamics in the confined waterways is challenging. When a ship is maneuvering in confined waterways, the hydrodynamic behavior may vary significantly because of the hydrodynamic interaction between the bottom of the ship hull and the seabed, or so-called shallow water effects. Thus, an accurate prediction of shallow water and bank effects is essential to minimizing the risk of the collision and the grounding of the ships. The hydrodynamic derivatives measured by the virtual captive model test provide a path to predicting the change in ship maneuverability. This paper presents a numerical simulation of captive model tests to predict the maneuverability of a ship in confined waterways. Also, straight and zig-zag simulation were conducted to predict the trajectory of a ship maneuvering in confined waterways. The results showed that the asymmetric flow around a ship induced by vicinity of banks causes pressure differences between the port and starboard sides and the trajectory of a ship maneuvering in confined waterways.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.133-142
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• 1992

An analytical model was developed for predicting the pullout behavior of straight beam longitudinal bars anchored at exterior beam-column connections. The model incorporates a local bond constitutive simulation capable of considering the effects of anchored bar diameter, yield strength and the spacing, concrete compressive strength, and column pressure on the bond characteristics of deformed bars in confined conditions of exterior joints. The analytical techniques adopted in this study were shown to satisfactorily predict the results of pullout tests on straight bars embedded in confined concrete specimens. An evaluation of the ACI-ASCE Committee 352 development length requirements in exterior joint conditions was made using the developed analytical approach. The results of this analytical evaluation are indicative of the conservatism of the current development length requirements in the confined conditions of exterior joints.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.61-71
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• 2009

This paper presents the results of an experiment comparing the current circular CFT columns and circular CFT columns that were additionally confined by carbon fiber sheets (CFS) under axial loading. The main experimental parameters are the numbers of CFS layers and the diameter-to-thickness ratio. 10 specimens were prepared according to the experimental parameter plans, and axial compression tests were conducted. From the tests, the failure procedure, load-axial deformation curve, maximum axial strength, and deformation capacity of the CFT columns and confined CFT columns were compared. The test results showed that the maximum axial strengths of CFT columns additionally confined by CFS are increased higher than those of the current CFT columns, and that local buckling can be delayed due to the confinement effect of CFS.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2014

This paper investigates experimentally the confinement effect on concrete. For this purpose, outside lateral reinforcement members made of stainless steel and GFRP were employed. Then, uniaxial compressive tests on concrete cylinders incorporating the members were conducted. A total of 30 cylinder specimens, specifically, 6 unconfined specimens, 12 specimens confined by stainless steel and 12 specimens confined by GFRP, were fabricated. The failure patterns of both unconfined and confined specimens were assessed and discussed based on experimental results. The results proved that the maximum stress and corresponding strains of the cylinders confined using the proposed hoops are increased in comparison with those of the unconfined. This supports that the current work can be used for retrofitting concrete members and structures and thus may lead to increased stability of such structures.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.747-758
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• 2003

The moment-curvature envelope describes the changes in the flexural capacity with deformation during a nonlinear analysis. Therefore, the moment-curvature analysis for reinforced concrete columns, indicating the available flexural strength and ductility, can be conducted providing the stress-strain relation for the concrete and steel are known. The moments and curvatures associated with increasing flexural deformations of the column may be computed for various column axial loads by incrementing the curvature and satisfying the requirements of strain compatibility and equilibrium of forces. Clearly it is important to have accurate information concerning the complete stress-strain curve of confined high-strength concrete in order to conduct reliable moment-curvature analysis that assesses the ductility available from high-strength concrete columns. However, it is not easy to explicitly characterize the mechanical behavior of confined high-strength concrete because of various parameter values, such as the confinement type of rectilinear ties, the compressive strength of concrete, the volumetric ratic and strength of rectangular ties. So a stress-strain model is developed which can simulate complete inelastic moment-curvature relations of high-strength concrete columns.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.58-69
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• 1992

Change in atmospheric pressure produce sizable fluctuafions in wells penetrafing confined aquifers. The relationship is inverse; that is, increases in atmospheric pressure produce decreases in water levels, and conversely. When atmospheric pressure changes are expressed in terms of a column of water, the raflo of water level change to pressure change expresses the barometric efficiency of an aquifer. In the study area, aquifers are developed in the fractures, joints, bedding planes and occasionally in solufion cavities of marl interbeds. The barometric efficiency of the aquifer varies from 8 to 90%, indicating that Confined, Unconfined and Semi-Confined condifions exist locally. The barometric efficiency is characteristic of the aquifer itself and observed in the field is inversely proportional to specific storage or the storage coefficient. It is remalned in question to derive the relationship between B.E. and S.