• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.316-329
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• 2012

In this paper, optimum design process of ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma) torch, which has been used widely in aerospace application, such as supersonic plasma wind tunnel, is presented. For this purpose, the behaviors of equivalent circuit parameters (equivalent resistance and inductance, coupling efficiency) were investigated according to the variations of torch design parameters (frequency, $f$, confinement tube radius, $R$ and coil turn numbers, $N$) in the basis of analytical and numerical MHD (Magneto Hydro-Dynamics) models combined with electrical circuit theory. From the results, it is found that equivalent resistance is increased with the increase of $f$ values but vice versa for equivalent inductance. For elevated values of $R$ and $N$, however, both parameters tend to increase. Based on these observations, ICP torch with a power level of 10 kW can be optimized at the design ranges of $f$=4~6 MHz, $R$=17~25 mm and $N$=3~4 to maximize the electrical coupling efficiency, which is the ratio of equivalent resistance to equivalent inductance.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.43-55
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• 2018

AGF (Artificial Ground Freezing) method is a temporary ground improvement method which can apply to all types of soil with the purpose of high stiffness and low hydraulic conductivity. However, the groundwater flow and the heterogeneity of the ground increase the uncertainty of the ice-column formation which hinders the reliability of this method. The effects of groundwater flow and layered heterogeneity on ice-wall integrity by AGF method were analyzed using finite element analysis program for a coupled thermo-hydro phenomena in the freezing ground. Groundwater flow changes circular ice-column into elliptical shapes and increases the time required for the formation of ice walls. The previous theoretical formula overestimated the completion time of the ice wall and the critical groundwater velocity by neglecting the thermal interaction between adjacent ice-columns. Numerical results presented the corrected formula and verified the proposed equation for the dimensionless ice-wall completion time. In the layered heterogeneous ground, the thickness of the layer with higher hydraulic conductivity and its relative magnitude were found to be important factors in the ice-wall completion time and critical velocity.