• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.185-191
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• 2021

A powder metallurgy process with granules is the manufacturing technology that can achieve higher-density sintered parts than conventional powder metallurgy processes. However, there is a disadvantage in that the production cost increases significantly due to the additional granulation step. High granule productivity must be guaranteed for affordable material costs in this manufacturing technology. This paper performed a series of scattering, collision, and adhesion simulations of agglomerated powders to investigate the characteristics of granulation process affecting the manufacturing yield rate. The results of this simulation-based convergence study can contribute to improving productivity in the metal powder spray granulation process.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1003-1020
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• 2017

Estimation of groundwater inflow into underground opening is of critical importance for the design and construction of underground structures. Groundwater inflow into a pilot underground storage facility in China was estimated using analytical equations, numerical modeling and field measurement. The applicability of analytical and numerical methods was examined by comparing the estimated and measured results. Field geological investigation indicated that in local scale the high groundwater inflows are associated with the appearance of open joints, fractured zone or dykes induced by shear and/or tensile tectonic stresses. It was found that 8 groundwater inflow spots with high inflow rates account for about 82% of the total rate for the 9 caverns. On the prediction of the magnitude of groundwater inflow rate, it was found that could both (Finite Element Method) FEM and (Discrete Element Method) DEM perform better than analytical equations, due to the fact that in analytical equations simplified assumptions were adopted. However, on the prediction of the spatial distribution estimation of groundwater inflow, both analytical and numerical methods failed to predict at the present state. Nevertheless, numerical simulations would prevail over analytical methods to predict the distribution if more details in the simulations were taken into consideration.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.456-467
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• 2019

In this study, the discrete element method was used to simulate the excavation of spoke-type shield TBM. The horizontal stress coefficient was used for the ground to simulate the increase of the horizontal stress according to the depth, and the driving conditions were set based on the torque generated from the cutterhead of the TBM to excavate within the operating range. That is, when the value of the torque generated at the cutterhead exceeds the given operating condition, the speed of excavation is constantly reduced, and conversely, the method of increasing the speed of excavation is considered. The change speed of the excavation was given the minimum change requirement in consideration of the driver's review time, and the change was possible according to the excavation conditions. In order to use these conditions, the user-subroutine was considered separately, and the results show that the DEM model were able to analyze the excavation within the considered operating range.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.51-62
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• 1993

A computational program ［TDET］ of the particle transport equation is developed on radiation shielding problem in two-dimensional cartesian geometry based on the discrete element method. Not like the ordinary discrete ordinates method, the quadrature set of angles is not fixed but steered by the spatially dependent angular fluxes. The angular dependence of the scattering source term in the particle transport equation is described by series expansion in spherical harmonics, and the energy dependence of the particles is considered as well. Three different benchmark tests are made for verification of TDET : For the ray effect analysis on a square absorber with a flat isotropic source, the results of TDET calculation are quite well conformed to those of MORSE-CG calculation while TDET ameliorates the ray effect more effectively than S$_{N}$ calculation. In the analysis of the streaming leakage through a narrow vacuum duct in a shield, TDET shows conspicuous and remarkable results of streaming leakage through the duct as well as MORSE-CG does, and quite better than S$_{N}$ calculation. In a realistic reactor shielding situation which treats in two cases of the isotropic scattering and of linearly anisotropic scattering with two groups of energy, TDET calculations show local ray effect between neighboring meshes compared with S$_{N}$ calculations in which the ray effect extends broadly over several meshes.eshes.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.35-40
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• 2020

The ballast layers play a key role in distributing and supporting a trainload. On the other hand, it settles down by dynamic train loading due to large void ratios. Consequently, it requires continuous maintenance. In this paper, ballast layers mixed with three types of specially shaped artificial ballast (AB) (Rectangular, Tetrapod, Hexagonal) were modeled by using a two dimensional DEM (Discrete Element Method). Repeated loading tests were performed to evaluate the settlement behavior of the ballast layers. The smallest settlement was observed in the case of the ballast layer mixed with Tetrapod AB than in other cases, according to an analysis of the force transfer routes. In addition, contact force analysis showed that the Tetrapod AB, which has a concave shape, could easily make small and multi-channel force-transfer routes. This means that the stress in the ballast layer by the train loading transferred through the sleeper uniformly was distributed well by the AB. Therefore, the settlement of the ballast layer mixed with the concave-shaped Tetrapod AB could be reduced effectively under a repeated train loading. The effects of a decrease in settlement of the ballast layer highlight the possibility of a maintenance-free ballasted track.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 2023

Warships widely spread numerous chaffs using a blast, which form chaff clouds that create false radar cross-sections to deceive enemy radars. In this study, we established a numerical framework based on a one-way coupling of computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method to simulate the spatiotemporal distribution of chaff clouds for warships in the air. Using the framework, we investigated the effects of wind, initial chaff cartridge angle, and blast pressure on the distribution of chaff clouds. We observed three phases for the chaff cloud diffusion: radial diffusion by the explosion, omnidirectional diffusion by turbulence and collision, and gravity-induced diffusion by the difference in the fall speed. The wind moved the average position of the chaff clouds, and the diffusion due to drag force did not occur. The direction of radial diffusion by the explosion depended on the initial angle of the cartridge, and a more vertical angle led to a wider distribution of the chaffs. As the blast pressure increased, the chaff clouds spread out more widely, but the distribution difference in the direction of gravity was not significant.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.9
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• pp.3835-3850
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• 2024

The high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) with spherical fuel elements contains complex pebble flow. The flow behavior of pebbles is influenced by various factors, such as pebble density, friction coefficient, wall structure, and discharge port size. Using a GPU-DEM numerical model, the effects of the friction coefficient on the cyclic loading and unloading of pebbles in the full-scale HTR-PM are studied. Numerical simulations with up to 420,000 spherical pebbles are conducted. Four sets of friction coefficient values are determined for comparative analysis based on experimental measurements. Discharging speed, residence time, stress, porosity, and velocity distribution are quantitatively analyzed. In addition, a comparison with the CT-PFD experiment is carried out to validate the numerical model. The results show that near-wall retention phenomena are observed in the reactor core only when using large friction coefficients. However, using friction coefficient values closer to the measured experimental values, the pebble bed in HTR-PM exhibited good flow characteristics. Furthermore, the friction coefficient also influences the porosity and velocity distribution of the pebble bed, with lower friction coefficients resulting in lower overall stress in the bed. The discharge outlet's influence varies with different friction coefficient values. In summary, this study demonstrates that the value of the friction coefficient has a complex influence on the pebble flow in HTR-PM, which provides important insights for future numerical and experimental studies in this field.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.5
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• pp.607-619
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• 2023

This study, it was tried to evaluate the asphalt behavior under tensile loading conditions through indirect Brazilian and direct tensile tests, experimentally and numerically. This paper is important from two points of view. The first one, a new test method was developed for the determination of the direct tensile strength of asphalt and its difference was obtained from the indirect test method. The second one, the effects of particle size and loading rate have been cleared on the tensile fracture mechanism. The experimental direct tensile strength of the asphalt specimens was measured in the laboratory using the compression-to-tensile load converting (CTLC) device. Some special types of asphalt specimens were prepared in the form of slabs with a central hole. The CTLC device is then equipped with this specimen and placed in the universal testing machine. Then, the direct tensile strength of asphalt specimens with different sizes of ingredients can be measured at different loading rates in the laboratory. The particle flow code (PFC) was used to numerically simulate the direct tensile strength test of asphalt samples. This numerical modeling technique is based on the versatile discrete element method (DEM). Three different particle diameters were chosen and were tested under three different loading rates. The results show that when the loading rate was 0.016 mm/sec, two tensile cracks were initiated from the left and right of the hole and propagated perpendicular to the loading axis till coalescence to the model boundary. When the loading rate was 0.032 mm/sec, two tensile cracks were initiated from the left and right of the hole and propagated perpendicular to the loading axis. The branching occurs in these cracks. This shows that the crack propagation is under quasi-static conditions. When the loading rate was 0.064 mm/sec, mixed tensile and shear cracks were initiated below the loading walls and branching occurred in these cracks. This shows that the crack propagation is under dynamic conditions. The loading rate increases and the tensile strength increases. Because all defects mobilized under a low loading rate and this led to decreasing the tensile strength. The experimental results for the direct tensile strengths of asphalt specimens of different ingredients were in good accordance with their corresponding results approximated by DEM software.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.93-107
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• 2013

Thermal conduction of the particulate composites or granular materials can be widely used in porous materials and geotechnical engineering. And it has continued to develop "effective thermal conductivity" of medium by modeling energy relationship among particles in medium. This study focuses on the development of the effective thermal conductivity at the unsaturated conditions of soils using the modified network model approach assisted by synthetic 3D random packed systems (DEM method, Discrete Element Method) at the particle scale. To verify the network model, three kinds of glass beads and the Jumunjin sand are used to obtain experimental values at various unsaturated conditions. The PPE (Pressure Plate Extractor) test is then performed to obtain SWCC (Soil-Water Characteristic Curve) of soil samples. In the modified network model, SWCC is used to adjust the equivalent radius of thermal cylinder at contact area between particles. And cutoff range parameter to define the effective zone is also adjusted according to the SWCC at given conditions. From a series of laboratory tests and the proposed network model, the modified network model which adopts a SWCC shows a good agreement in modeling thermal conductivity of granular soils at given conditions. And an empirical correlation between the fraction of the mean radius (${\chi}$) and thermal conductivity at given saturated condition is provided, which can be used to expect thermal conductivity of the granular soils, to estimate thermal conductivity of granular soils.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.3940-3955
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• 2023

A new method of numerical simulating prediction and decontamination effect evaluation for abrasive jet decontamination to radioactively contaminated metal is proposed. Based on the Computational Fluid Dynamics and Discrete Element Model (CFD-DEM) coupled simulation model, the motion patterns and distribution of abrasives can be predicted, and the decontamination effect can be evaluated by image processing and recognition technology. The impact of three key parameters (impact distance, inlet pressure, abrasive mass flow rate) on the decontamination effect is revealed. Moreover, here are experiments of reliability verification to decontamination effect and numerical simulation methods that has been conducted. The results show that: ⁶⁰Co and other homogeneous solid solution radioactive pollutants can be removed by abrasive jet, and the average removal rate of Co exceeds 80%. It is reliable for the proposed numerical simulation and evaluation method because of the well goodness of fit between predicted value and actual values: The predicted values and actual values of the abrasive distribution diameter are Ф57 and Ф55; the total coverage rate is 26.42% and 23.50%; the average impact velocity is 81.73 m/s and 78.00 m/s. Further analysis shows that the impact distance has a significant impact on the distribution of abrasive particles on the target surface, the coverage rate of the core area increases at first, and then decreases with the increase of the impact distance of the nozzle, which reach a maximum of 14.44% at 300 mm. It is recommended to set the impact distance around 300 mm, because at this time the core area coverage of the abrasive is the largest and the impact velocity is stable at the highest speed of 81.94 m/s. The impact of the nozzle inlet pressure on the decontamination effect mainly affects the impact kinetic energy of the abrasive and has little impact on the distribution. The greater the inlet pressure, the greater the impact kinetic energy, and the stronger the decontamination ability of the abrasive. But in return, the energy consumption is higher, too. For the decontamination of radioactively contaminated metals, it is recommended to set the inlet pressure of the nozzle at around 0.6 MPa. Because most of the Co elements can be removed under this pressure. Increasing the mass and flow of abrasives appropriately can enhance the decontamination effectiveness. The total mass of abrasives per unit decontamination area is suggested to be 50 g because the core area coverage rate of the abrasive is relatively large under this condition; and the nozzle wear extent is acceptable.