• Computers and Concrete
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.389-409
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• 2014

Precast hollow core slabs (HCS) are technically advanced products in the precast concrete industry, widely used in the last years due to their versatility, their multipurpose potential and their low cost. Using three dimensional FEM (Finite Element Method) elements, this study focuses on the stresses induced by the prestressing of steel. In particular the investigation of the spalling crack formation that takes place during prestressing is carried out, since it is important to assure the appropriate necessary margins concerning such stresses. In fact, spalling cracks may spread rapidly towards the web, leading to the detachment of the lower part of the slab. A parametric study takes place, capable of evaluating the influence of the tendon position and of the web width on the spalling stress. Consequently, after an extensive literature review on the topic of soft computing, an optimization of the HCS is performed by means of Genetic Algorithms coupled with 3-D FEM models.

• Proceeding of EDISON Challenge
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• 2015.03a
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• pp.285-291
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• 2015

In this paper, a composite material analysis program based on the finite element method(FEM) is used. The purpose of this study was to verify whether the composite material analysis program which developed as part of a project of development of softwares and educational contents for structural vibration and composite material analysis that can calculate how similar the macroscopic mechanical behavior of the composite materials actually. Because composite materials are generally anisotropic, analysis of composite laminate is used for the constitutive equations of orthotropic material. For convenience, the unit is ommited in all calculations. To verify the accuracy of the finite element method based program, the deflection and stress distribution of the simply supported composite material laminated plate subjected to a uniform load distribution is compared with exact solution. Size and properties of the composite material laminate used for analysis are fixed variables, and by changing the number of elements and the total thickness of the laminate is compared with the exact solution to the resulting value, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.343-348
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• 2005

This paper describes an automatic finite element (FE) mesh generation for three-dimensional structures consisting of free-form surfaces. This mesh generation process consists of three subprocesses: (a) definition of geometric model, i.e. analysis model, (b) generation of nodes, and (c) generation of elements. One of commercial solid modelers is employed for three-dimensional solid structures. Node is generated if its distance from existing node points is similar to the node spacing function at the point. The node spacing function is well controlled by the fuzzy knowledge processing. The Delaunay method is introduced as a basic tool for element generation. Automatic generation of FE meshes for three-dimensional solid structures holds great benefits for analyses. Practical performances of the present system are demonstrated through several mesh generations for three-dimensional complex geometry.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.44-50
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• 2010

Structural vibration is a significant problem in many multi-part or multi-component assemblies. In aircraft industry, structures are composed of various fasteners, such as bolts, snap, hinge, weld or other fastener or connector (collectively "fasteners"). Due to these, prediction and design involving dynamic characteristics is quite complicated. However, the current state of the art does not provide an analytical tool to effectively predict structure's dynamic characteristics, because consideration of structural uncertainties (i.e. material properties, geometric tolerance, dimensional tolerance, environment and so on) is difficult and very small fasteners in the structure cause a huge amount of analysis time to predict dynamic characteristics using the FEM (finite element method). In this study, to resolve the current state of the art, a new approach is proposed using the FEM and probabilistic analysis. Firstly, equivalent elements are developed using simple element (e.g. bar, beam, mass) to replace fasteners' finite element model. Developed equivalent elements enable to explain static behavior and dynamic behavior of the structure. Secondly, probabilistic analysis is applied to evaluate the PDF (probability density function) of dynamic characteristics due to tolerance, material properties and so on. MCS (Monte-Carlo simulation) is employed for this. Proposed methodology offers efficiency of dynamic analysis and reality of the field as well. Simple plates joined by fasteners are taken as an example to illustrate the proposed method.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.15-33
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• 2012

For an axially loaded box-shaped member, the width-to-thickness ratio of the plate elements preferably should not be greater than 40 for Q235 steel grades in accordance with the Chinese code GB50017-2003. However, in practical engineering the plate width-to-thickness ratio is up to 120, much more than the limiting value. In this paper, a 3D nonlinear finite element model is developed that accounts for both geometrical imperfections and residual stresses and the ultimate capacity of welded built-up box columns, with larger width-to-thickness ratios of 60, 70, 80, and 100, is simulated. At the same time, the interaction buckling strength of these members is determined using the effective width method recommended in the Chinese code GB50018-2002, Eurocode 3 EN1993-1 and American standard ANSI/AISC 360-10 and the direct strength method developed in recent years. The studies show that the finite element model proposed can simulate the behavior of nonlinear buckling of axially loaded box-shaped members very well. The width-to-thickness ratio of the plate elements in welded box section columns can be enlarged up to 100 for Q235 steel grades. Good agreements are observed between the results obtained from the FEM and direct strength method. The modified direct strength method provides a better estimation of the column strength compared to the direct strength method over the full range of plate width-to-thickness ratio. The Chinese code and Eurocode 3 are overly conservative prediction of column capacity while the American standard provides a better prediction and is slightly conservative for b/t = 60. Therefore, it is suggested that the modified direct strength method should be adopted when revising the Chinese code.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2023

This paper investigates the mechanical behavior of full-scale offshore fish cages under hydrodynamic loads. To simulate different cases, different materials were used in the fish cage and analyzed under different flow velocities. The cage system is studied in two parts: net cage and floating collar. Analyses were performed with the ANSYS Workbench program, which allows the Finite Element Method (FEM) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method to be used together. Firstly, the fish cage was designed, and adjusted for FSI: Fluid (Fluent) analysis. Secondly, mesh structures were created, and hydrodynamic loads acting on the cage elements were calculated. Finally, the hydrodynamic loads were transferred to the mechanical model and applied as a pressure on the geometry. In this study, the equivalent (von Mises) stress, equivalent strain, and total deformation values of cage elements under hydrodynamic loads were investigated. The data obtained from the analyses were presented as figures and tables. As a result, it has been shown that it is appropriate to use all the materials examined for the net cage and the floating collar.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 1996

Superplastic forming/diffusion bonding (SPF/DB) processes were analyzed using a rigid visco-plastic finite element method. The optimum pressure-time relationship for a target strain rate and thickness distributions were predicted by two-node line elements based on the membrane approximation for plane strain. Material behavior during SPF/DB of the integral structures having complicated shapes was investigated. The tying condition is employed for the analysis of inter-sheet contact problems. A movement of rib structure is successfully predicted during the forming.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.341-348
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• 2004

This paper presents a modeling technique of cracks by combined extended and superposed finite element method (XSFEM) which is a combination of the extended finite element method (XFEM) and the mesh superposition method (sversion FEM). In the proposed method, the near-tip field is modeled by a superimposed patch consisting of quarter point elements and the rest of the discontinuity is treated by the XFEM. The actual crack opening in this method is measured by the sum of the crack openings of XFEM and SFEM in transition region. This method retains the strong point of the XFEM so it can avoid remeshing in crack evolution and trace the crack growth by translation or rotation of the overlaid mesh and the update of the nodes to be enriched by step functions. Moreover, the quadrature of the Galerkin weak form becomes simpler. Numerical experiments are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.473-494
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• 2015

A graded harmonic finite element formulation based on three-dimensional elasticity theory is developed for the structural analysis of 2D functionally graded axisymmetric structures. The mechanical properties of the axisymmetric solid structures composed of two different metals and ceramics are assumed to vary in radial and axial directions according to power law variations as a function of the volume fractions of the constituents. The material properties of the graded element are calculated at the integration points. Effects of material distribution profile on the static deformation, natural frequency and dynamic response analyses of particular axisymmetric solid structures are investigated by changing the power law exponents. It is observed that the displacements, stresses and natural frequencies are severely affected by the variation of axial and radial power law exponents. Good accuracy is obtained with fewer elements in the present study since Fourier series expansion eliminates the need of finite element mesh in circumferential direction and continuous material property distribution within the elements improves accuracy without refining the mesh size in axial and radial directions.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.157-163
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• 1986

A method to improve the Finite Elements Model and to identify structure stiffness damages utilizing measured dynamic characteristics is suggested. In order to show the effectiveness of the proposed method, a sample structure is adopted and tested. It is found that; (1) the Finite Elements Model can be improved with experimentally obtained dynamic characteristics satisfactorily and (2) the test results are also very helpful to search the stiffness damaged part of the sample structure via plotting the error matrix[E], especially it is aboved that the weighted error matrix is very effective to detect even the stiffness changes are relatively small.