• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.55-66
• /
• 2011

This paper presents the results of an investigation on the failure mechanism of geosynthetic reinforced soil walls in back-to-back configuration using 1-g reduced-scale model tests as well as discrete element method-based numerical investigation. In the 1-g reduced scale model tests, 1/10 scale back-to-back walls were constructed so that the wall can be brought to failure by its own weight and the effect of reinforcement length on the failure mechanism was investigated. In addition, a validated discrete element method-based numerical model was used to further investigate the failure mechanism of back-to-back walls with different boundary conditions. The results were then compared with the failure mechanisms defined in the FHWA design guideline.

• Journal of the Korean Mathematical Society
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.545-565
• /
• 2014

In this paper we derive a priori $L^{\infty}(L^2)$ error estimates for expanded mixed finite element formulations of semilinear Sobolev equations. This formulation expands the standard mixed formulation in the sense that three variables, the scalar unknown, the gradient and the flux are explicitly treated. Based on this method we construct finite element semidiscrete approximations and fully discrete approximations of the semilinear Sobolev equations. We prove the existence of semidiscrete approximations of u, $-{\nabla}u$ and $-{\nabla}u-{\nabla}u_t$ and obtain the optimal order error estimates in the $L^{\infty}(L^2)$ norm. And also we construct the fully discrete approximations and analyze the optimal convergence of the approximations in ${\ell}^{\infty}(L^2)$ norm. Finally we also provide the computational results.

• Korean Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.230-237
• /
• 2015

Soil deformation on the off-load ground is significantly affected by soil conditions, such as soil type, water content, and etc. Thus, the soil characteristics should be estimated for predicting vehicle movements on the off-load conditions. The plate-sinkage test, a widely-used experimental test for predicting the wheel-soil interaction, provides the soil characteristic parameters from the relationship between soil stress and plate sinkage. In this study, soil stress under the plate-sinkage situation is calculated by the DEM (Discrete Element Method) model. We developed a virtual soil bin with DEM to obtain the vertical reaction forces under the plate pressing the soil surface. Also parametric studies to investigate effects of DEM model parameters, such as, particle density, Young's modulus, dynamic friction, rolling friction, and adhesion, on the characteristic soil parameters were performed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.93-98
• /
• 2020

Washboarding is a phenomenon in which a wavy shape occurs periodically and naturally on an unpaved road made of soil or gravel. This phenomenon causes high-frequency vibration of the traffic traveling on the road because of the height difference of the wave pattern, which may lead to vehicle failure. Consequently, associated research is needed concerning vehicle safety. Therefore, in this study, a numerical simulation was conducted using the discrete element method, which is often used for powder simulation. In contrast to previous studies, the results of this study demonstrate that washboarding can occur even in an environment of 1.5 m/s or less. However, the amount of washboarding is minimal. The study revealed that washboarding develops over time, such that sufficient development time is required before measurements are taken.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 2006.04a
• /
• pp.427-434
• /
• 2006

The stone pagoda on the Miruksa temple site has a high value as architectural history, because this stone pagoda is one of the oldest and grandest stone pagodas which remain in Korea today. However, this stone pagoda has remained only six stones of the northeastern part, becased this stone pagoda was collapsed at past. Therefore, it is important to know the original structure and form of this stone pagoda. Hypotheses about collapse cause of this stone pagoda are presented as four cases: collapse by earthquake, collapse by fragility of ground, collapse by durability reduction, and collapse by lightning, On the basis of these four collapse hypotheses in this study, we investigate collapse phenomenon through the structural analysis using discrete element method and evaluate collapse causes of this stone pagoda.

• Particle and aerosol research
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.75-81
• /
• 2012

The strength of lumped cokes can be represented by some index numbers. Although some indexes are suggested, these indexes are not enough to enlighten fracture mechanism. To find essential mechanism, a computational way, discrete element method, is applied to the uniaxial compression test for cylindrical specimen. The cylindrical specimen is a kind of lumped particle mass with parallel bonding that will be broken when the normal stress and shear stress is over a critical value. It is revealed that the primary factors for cokes fracture are parallel spring constant, parallel bond strength, bonding radius and packing ratio the parallel bond strength and radius of the parallel combination the packing density. Especially, parallel spring constant is directly related with elastic constant and yield strength.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.86-91
• /
• 2020

An important factor of rough road modeling is analyzing the shear behavior properties of the rough road. These properties influence the drawbar pull of the tool when interacting with the soil used in agriculture. Furthermore, shear behavior properties are important because sinkage and shear stress are generated when wheels drive on rough roads. In this study, we performed a direct shear test to investigate the shear behavior properties of soils and compare with the direct shear simulation; shear force derived by the coupled analysis of discrete element method; and multi-body dynamics. Soil contact parameters were measured in a wheel and soil contact simulation followed by comparison of the simulated and experimentally measured shear force.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.85 no.3
• /
• pp.369-379
• /
• 2023

Reliability-Based Design Optimization (RBDO) is an appropriate framework for obtaining optimal designs by taking uncertainties into account. Large-scale problems with implicit limit state functions and problems with discrete design variables are two significant challenges to traditional RBDO methods. To overcome these challenges, this paper proposes a hybrid method to perform RBDO of structures that links Firefly Algorithm (FA) as an optimization tool to advanced (finite element) reliability methods. Furthermore, the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and the FA are compared based on the design cost (objective function) they achieve. In the proposed method, Weighted Simulation Method (WSM) is utilized to assess reliability constraints in the RBDO problems with explicit limit state functions. WSM is selected to reduce computational costs. To performing RBDO of structures with finite element modeling and implicit limit state functions, a First-Order Reliability Method (FORM) based on the Direct Differentiation Method (DDM) is utilized. Four numerical examples are considered to assess the effectiveness of the proposed method. The findings illustrate that the proposed RBDO method is applicable and efficient for RBDO problems with discrete and continuous design variables and finite element modeling.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.369-389
• /
• 2014

Two-layer coupled or composite beams with discrete shear connectors of finite dimensions are commonly encountered in pre-fabricated construction. This paper presents the development of simplified closed-form solutions for such type of coupled beams for practical applications. A new coupled beam element is proposed to represent the unconnected segments in the beam. General solutions are then developed by an inductive method based on the results from the finite element analysis. A modification is subsequently considered to account for the effect of local deformations. For typical cases where the local deformation is primarily concerned about its distribution over the depth of the coupled beam, empirical modification factors are developed based on parametric calculations using finite element models. The developed analytical method for the coupled beams in question is simple, sufficiently accurate, and suitable for quick calculation in engineering practice.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.563-582
• /
• 2016

The failure mechanism and maximum collapse load of masonry structures may change significantly under static and dynamic excitations depending on their internal arrangement and material properties. Hence, it is important to understand correctly the nonlinear behavior of masonry structures in order to adequately assess their safety and propose efficient strengthening measures, especially for historical constructions. The discrete element method (DEM) can play an important role in these studies. This paper discusses possible collapse mechanisms and provides a set of parametric analyses by considering the influence of material properties and cross section morphologies on the out of plane strength of masonry walls. Detailed modeling of masonry structures may affect their mechanical strength and displacement capacity. In particular, the structural behavior of stacked and rubble masonry walls, portal frames, simple combinations of masonry piers and arches, and a real structure is discussed using DEM. It is further demonstrated that this structural analysis tool allows obtaining excellent results in the description of the nonlinear behavior of masonry structures.