• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.1503-1512
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• 2013

In this study, we proposed an indentation evaluation method for fracture toughness using cohesive finite element simulations. First, we examined the effect of material properties (yield strain, Poisson's ratio, and elastic modulus) on crack size during Vickers indentation and then generated a regression formula that explains the relations among fracture toughness, indentation load, and crack size. We also proposed another indentation formula for fracture toughness evaluation using the contact size a and E/H (H: hardness). Finally, we examined the relation between the crack size and the indenter shapes. Based on this, we can generate from the formula obtained using the Vickers indenter a formula for an indenter of different shapes. Using the proposed method, fracture toughness is directly estimated from indentation data.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.33-41
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• 2018

Soil internal erosion is a phenomenon in which fines attached to the solid skeleton are detached by fluid flow, and this continuous fine migration weakens the hydro-mechanical characteristics of the ground structure. This paper proposed governing equations for fine migration in pore spaces and its related scheme for the numerical analysis. Phase diagram for fine particles includes three different states: detached fines in the liquid phase ($c_e$), attached fines in the solid phase (${\sigma}_a$), and pore-clogged fines in the solid phase (${\sigma}_s$). Numerical formulations for finite element method are developed based on the hydraulic governing equations of pore fluid and fine migration. This study proposed a method of estimating model parameters for fine detachment, attachment, and clogging from 1D erosion experiments. And it proposed an analytical formula for hydraulic permeability function considering fine clogging. Numerical analysis of the previous erosion test developed the numerical scheme and verified the adequacy of fine migration models.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.206-210
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• 2019

As the use of composite materials of woven structure has expanded to various fields such as automobile and aviation industry, there has been a need for reliability problems and prediction of mechanical properties of woven composites. In this study, finite element analysis for predicting the mechanical properties of composite materials with different weaving structures was conducted to verify similarity with experimental static properties and an effective modeling method was developed. To reflect the characteristics of the weave structure, the meso-scale representative volume element (RVE) was used in modeling. Three-dimensional modeling was carried out by separating the yarn and the pure matrix. Hashin's failure criterion was used to determine whether the element was failed, and the simulation model used a progressive failure model which was suitable for the composite material. Finally, the accordance of the modeling and simulation technique was verified by successfully predicting the mechanical properties of the composite material according to the weave structure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.3
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• pp.343-354
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• 2021

The frequencies formulas of the bridge are of great importance in the design process since these formulas provide insight dynamic characteristics of the structure, which guides the designers to parametric analyses and the layout of the bridge in conceptual or preliminary design. Continuous rigid frame bridge is popular in the mountainous area. Mostly, this type of bridge was simplified either as a girder or cantilever when calculating the frequency, however, studies showed that the different configuration of the bridge made the problem more complex, and there is no unified fundamental calculation pattern for this kind of bridge. In this study, an empirical frequency equation is proposed as a function of pier's height, stiffness of pier and the weight of the structure. A unified fundamental frequency formula is presented based on the energy principle, then the typical continuous rigid frame bridge is investigated by finite element method (FEM) to study the dynamic characteristics of the structure, and then several key parameters are investigated on the effect of structural frequency. These parameters include the number, position and stiffness of the tie beam. Nonlinear regression analyses are conducted with a comprehensive statistical study from plenty of engineering structures. Finally, the proposed frequency equation is validated by field test results. The results show that the fundamental frequency of the continuous rigid frame bridge increases more than 15% when the tie beams are set, and it increases with the stiffness ratio of tie beam to pier. The results also show that the presented unified fundamental frequency has an error of 4.6% compared with the measured results. The investigation can predicate the approximate longitudinal fundamental frequency of continuous ridged frame bridge, which can provide reference for the seismic response and dynamic impact factor design of the pier.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.80 no.6
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• pp.645-655
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• 2021

Performance-based reliability analysis is a practical approach to investigate the seismic performance and stochastic nonlinear response of structures considering a random process. This is significant due to the uncertainties involved in every aspect of the analysis. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the performance-based reliability within a stochastic finite element (FE) framework for reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls that are considered as one of the most essential elements of structures. To accomplish this purpose, deterministic FE analyses are conducted for both squat and slender shear walls to validate numerical models through experimental results. The presented numerical analysis is performed by using the ABAQUS FE program. Afterwards, a random-effects investigation is carried out to consider the influence of different random variables on the lateral load-top displacement behavior of RC members. Using these results and through utilizing the Monte-Carlo simulation method, stochastic nonlinear analyses are also performed to generate random FE models based on input parameters and their probabilistic distributions. In order to evaluate the reliability of RC walls, failure probabilities and corresponding reliability indices are calculated at life safety and collapse prevention levels of performance as suggested by FEMA 356. Moreover, based on reliability indices, capacity reduction factors are determined subjected to shear for all specimens that are designed according to the ACI 318 Building Code. Obtained results show that the lateral load and the compressive strength of concrete have the highest effects on load-displacement responses compared to those of other random variables. It is also found that the probability of shear failure for the squat wall is slightly lower than that for slender walls. This implies that 𝛽 values are higher in a non-ductile mode of failure. Besides, the reliability of both squat and slender shear walls does not change significantly in the case of varying capacity reduction factors.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.261-276
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• 2023

The use of the ordinary double nut (i.e., ODN) composed of a master nut (i.e., M-nut) and a slave nut (i.e., S-nut) is a highly efficient method to prevent bolts loosening. A novel double nut (i.e., FODN) composed of a master nut (i.e., M-nut) and flat slave nut (i.e., FS-nut) is proposed to save raw materials. The bolt fastening tests with single nut, ODN and FODN are performed to investigate the preload and counterbalance forces. Corresponding finite element analysis (FEA) models are established and validated by comparing the preload with the experimental results. The load-bearing capacity, the extrusion effect, and the contact stress of each engaged thread for ODN and FODN are observed by FEA. The experimental and simulated results revealed that the bolt fastening with double-nut has different load-transferring mechanisms from single-nut. Nevertheless, for double-nut/bolt assemblies, the FS-nut can provide load transfer that is like that of the S-nut, and the FODN is a reasonable and reliable fastening method. Furthermore, based on the theory of Yamamoto, a formula considering the extrusion effect is proposed to calculate the preload distribution of the double-nut, which is applicable to varying thicknesses of slave-nuts in double-nut/bolt assemblies.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.153-166
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• 2023

Health monitoring of civil infrastructures, in particular, old bridges that are still in service, has become more than necessary, given the risk that a possible degradation or failure of these infrastructures can induce on the safety of users in addition to the resulting commercial and economic impact. Bridge integrity assessment has attracted significant research efforts over the past forty years with the aim of developing new damage identification methods applicable to real structures. The bridge of Ouled Mimoun (Tlemcen, Algeria) is one of the oldest railway structure in the country. It was built in 1889. This bridge, which is too low with respect to the level of the road, has suffered multiple shocks from various machines that caused considerable damage to its central part. The present work aims to analyze the stability of this bridge by identifying damages and evaluating the damage rate in different parts of the structure on the basis of a finite element model. The applied method is based on an inverse analysis of the normal stress responses that were calculated from the corresponding recorded strains, during the passage of a real train, by means of a set of strain gauges placed on certain elements of the bridge. The results obtained from the inverse analysis made it possible to successfully locate areas that were really damaged and to estimate the damage rate. These results were also used to detect an excessive rigidity in certain elements due to the presence of plates, which were neglected in the numerical reference model. In the case of the continuous bridge monitoring, this developed method will be a very powerful tool as a smart health monitoring system, allowing engineers to take in time decisions in the event of bridge damage.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.117-124
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• 2009

The p-convergent boundary element method has been proposed to analyze two-dimensional potential problem on the basis of high order Legendre shape functions that have different property comparing with the shape functions in conventional boundary element method. The location of nodes corresponding to high order shape function are not defined along the boundary, called by nodeless node, similar to the p-convergent finite element method. As the order of shape function increases, the collocation point method is used to solve linear simultaneous equations. The collocation patterns of p-convergent boundary element method consist of non-symmetric hierarchial or symmetric non-hierarchical. As the order of shape function increases, the number of collocation point increases. The singular integral that appears in p-convergent boundary element has been calculated by special numeric quadrature technique and semi-analytical integration technique. The L-shape domain problem including singularity in the vicinity of reentrant comer is analyzed and the numerical results show that the relative error is smaller than $10^{-2}%$ range as compared with other results in literatures. In case of same condition, the symmetric p-collocation point pattern shows high accuracy of solution.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.19-30
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• 2005

A coupled three-dimensional pile group analysis method was developed by considering complex behavior of sub-structures (pile-soil-cap) which included soil nonlinearity and the behavior of super-structure (pier). As an intermediate analysis method between FBPier 3.0 and Group 0.0, it took advantages of each method. Among the components of a pile group, individual piles were modeled with stiffness matrices of pile heads and soils with nonlinear load-transfer curves (t-z, q-z and p-y curves). A pile cap was modeled with modified four-node flat shell elements and a pier with three-dimensional beam element, so that a unified analysis could be possible. A nonlinear analysis method was proposed in this study with a mixed incremental and iteration techniques. The proposed method for a pile group subjected to axial and lateral loads was compared with othe. analytical methods (i.e., Group 6.0 and FBPier 3.0). It was found that the proposed method could predict the complex behavior of a pile group well, even though piles were modelled simply in this study by using pile head stiffness matrices which were different from the method introduced in FBPier 3.0.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.315-321
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• 2012

In this study, a sequential multiscale homogenization method to characterize the effective thermal conductivity of nano particulate polymer nanocomposites is proposed through a molecular dynamics(MD) simulations and a finite element-based homogenization method. The thermal conductivity of the nanocomposites embedding different-sized nanoparticles at a fixed volume fraction of 5.8% are obtained from MD simulations. Due to the Kapitza thermal resistance, the thermal conductivity of the nanocomposites decreases as the size of the embedded nanoparticle decreases. In order to describe the nanoparticle size effect using the homogenization method with accuracy, the Kapitza interface in which the temperature discontinuity condition appears and the effective interphase zone formed by highly densified matrix polymer are modeled as independent phases that constitutes the nanocomposites microstructure, thus, the overall nanocomposites domain is modeled as a four-phase structure consists of the nanoparticle, Kapitza interface, effective interphase, and polymer matrix. The thermal conductivity of the effective interphase is inversely predicted from the thermal conductivity of the nanocomposites through the multiscale homogenization method, then, exponentially fitted to a function of the particle radius. Using the multiscale homogenization method, the thermal conductivities of the nanocomposites at various particle radii and volume fractions are obtained, and parametric studies are conducted to examine the effect of the effective interphase on the overall thermal conductivity of the nanocomposites.