• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.1365-1381
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• 2023

In this paper, a procedure for evaluating the structural integrity of the PCSG (Printed Circuit Steam Generator) unit block is presented with a simplified FE (finite element) analysis technique by applying the homogenization method. The homogenization method converts an inhomogeneous elastic body into a homogeneous elastic body with same mechanical behaviour. This method is effective when the inhomogeneous elastic body has repetitive microstructures, and thus the method was applied to the sheet assembly among the PCSG unit block components. From the method, the homogenized equivalent elastic constants of the sheet assembly were derived. The validity of the determined material properties was verified by comparing the mechanical behaviour with the reference model. Thermo-mechanical analysis was then performed to evaluate the structural integrity of the PCSG unit block, and it was found that the contact region between the steam header and the sheet assembly is a critical point where large bending stress occurs due to the temperature difference.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2003

This paper describes the thermal effect at Nd:YAG using a laser-diode side-pumping. To detect the depolarization loss and the retardation caused by the thermal effect, a λ/4 plate is inserted between the polarizer and the Nd:YAG laser material. Using a CCD has allowed detection of the variation of the beam pattern that could analyze the change of the refractive index of the Nd:YAG laser material by the thermal effect. Through the change of the probe beam power, we know that 21% of the pumping power was converted into heat in the material. The depolarization loss was 24.7% under a temperature of $25^{\circ}C$ of the laser material and a pumping power of 15 W. The inhomogeneous distribution showed that the retardation angle was 7$^{\circ}$ in the center of the material and 19$^{\circ}$ on the edge of it. It is confirmed that the thermal effect is analyzed at the each point of the laser material and it suggests an effective method to reduce the thermal effect on the LD side-pumped laser material.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.849-862
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• 2017

With growing interests in using bacterial biopolymers in geotechnical practices, identifying mechanical properties of soft gel-like biopolymers is important in predicting their efficacy in soil modification and treatment. As one of the promising candidates, dextran was found to be produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides. The model bacteria utilize sucrose as working material and synthesize both soluble and insoluble dextran which forms a complex and inhomogeneous polymer network. However, the traditional rheometer has a limitation to capture in situ properties of inherently porous and inhomogeneous biopolymers. Therefore, we used the particle tracking microrheology to characterize the material properties of the dextran polymer. TEM images revealed a range of pore size mostly less than $20{\mu}m$, showing large pores > $2{\mu}m$ and small pores within the solid matrix whose sizes are less than $1{\mu}m$. Microrheology data showed two distinct regimes in the bacterial dextran, purely viscous pore region of soluble dextran and viscoelastic region of the solid part of insoluble dextran matrix. Diffusive beads represented the soluble dextran dissolved in an aqueous phase, of which viscosity was three times higher than the growth medium viscosity. The local properties of the insoluble dextran were extracted from the results of the minimally moving beads embedded in the dextran matrix or trapped in small pores. At high frequency (${\omega}>0.2Hz$), the insoluble dextran showed the elastic behavior with the storage modulus of ~0.1 Pa. As frequency decreased, the insoluble dextran matrix exhibited the viscoelastic behavior with the decreasing storage modulus in the range of ${\sim}0.1-10^{-3}Pa$ and the increasing loss modulus in the range of ${\sim}10^{-4}-1\;Pa$. The obtained results provide a compilation of frequency-dependent rheological or viscoelastic properties of soft gel-like porous biopolymers at the particular conditions where soil bacteria produce bacterial biopolymers in subsurface.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.116-125
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• 2018

Modified 9Cr-1Mo ferritic steel is a preferred material for steam generators in nuclear power plants for their creep strength and good corrosion resistance. Austenitic stainless steels, such as type 316LN, are used in the high temperature segments such as reactor pressure vessels and primary piping systems. So, the dissimilar joints between these materials are inevitable. In this investigation, dissimilar joints were fabricated by the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) process with Inconel 82/182 filler metals. The notch tensile properties and Charpy V-notch impact toughness properties of various regions of dissimilar metal weld joints (DMWJs) were evaluated as per the standards. The microhardness distribution across the DMWJs was recorded. Microstructural features of different regions were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Inhomogeneous notch tensile properties were observed across the DMWJs. Impact toughness values of various regions of the DMWJs were slightly higher than the prescribed value. Formation of a carbon-enriched hard zone at the interface between the ferritic steel and the buttering material enhanced the notch tensile properties of the heat-affected-zone (HAZ) of P91. The complex microstructure developed at the interfaces of the DMWJs was the reason for inhomogeneous mechanical properties.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2021

Recently, many structures using lightweight materials have been developed. This study was conducted by using Al6061-T6 and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), two common lightweight materials. In addition, the failure characteristics of an interface bonded between a single material and a heterogeneous bonding material were analyzed. The specimens bonded with CFRP and Al6061-T6 were utilized by the combination of the heterogeneous bonding material. The specimens had a double cantilevered shape and the bonding between the materials was achieved by applying a structural adhesive. The experiments were conducted in opening mode: the lower part of the samples was fixed, while their upper part was subjected to a forced displacement of 3 mm/min by using a tensile tester. Under the tested amount of strength, energy release rate, and considering the specimens' fracture characteristics in opening mode, the specimen "CFRP-Al" presented the maximum stress, followed by "Al" and "CFRP". We can hence conclude that the inhomogeneous material "CFRP-Al" is useful for the construction of lightweight structures bonded with structural adhesive.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.183-188
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• 1996

Films and coatings are used for an enormous and diverse set of applications including mechanical, electronic and optical devices, protection at high temperature, cutting tools enhancement and automotive use. Many of these applications require the various properties associated with inorganic and metallic / non-metallic materials; i.e., with ceramics. Therefore, a large number of coatings have been developed and used for a long time in the various fields, especially in mechanical one. As one of the mutual surface actions, the problems of contact stresses are complex. The relationship between load and stress are nonlinear. Besides, the material is often apt to deform plastically under low load. However, analytical solutions exist only for some simple problems. If a material has a complicated shape or inhomogeneous properties, numerical method must be used. In this paper, the analysis of the contact stress of the coating layer was solved, using the finite element method.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1995.11a
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• pp.306-309
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• 1995

This paper describes the dielectric characteristics of $SF_{6}$ gas in a non-uniform electric field under overvoltages. The breakdown voltage-time characteristics and the breakdown voltage-gas pressure characteristics are measured within a gas pressure range extending from 0.1 to 0.5 [Mpa] for the plane electrode system with a needle-shaped protrusion. The curvature radius of the needle protrusion is 0.5[mm]. Also, the growth process of the predischarge are simultaneously observed. As a result, it is found that the breakdown mechanism and predischarge phenomena are closely associated with the polarity and waveforms of the testing voltage.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.334-337
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• 1997

This paper describes dielectric characteristics of SF$_{6}$ gas stressed by the non-oscillating and oscillating impulse voltages in inhomogeneous fields disturbed by metallic protrusion. The breakdown voltage-time (V-t) characteristics and breakdown voltage-gas pressure (V-p) characteristics and their characteristics are statistically investigated with positive and negative very fast transient overvoltages. The experiments were carried out using a needle-to-plane gap geometry in the gas pressure ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 MPa. The gap separation gas 22 mm, and the needle-shaped protrusions were made of stainless steel 10 mm in length and 1.0 mm in diameter.r.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.469-475
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• 1984

In dual phase steel composed of martensite and ferrite which are different in deformation behavior, the quantitative estimation of fracture toughness is investigated by the R-curve method and the stretched zone method of JSME Sool. In the homogeneous material J$_{IC}$ value measured by the R-curve method and the stretched zone method are almost equivalent each other, but in the inhomogeneous material J$_{IC}$ value by the stretched zone method is overestimated than that by the R-curve method. Such a overestimation for the J$_{IC}$ is due to the continuous plastic blunting of ferrite after the stretched zone width in martensite reached critical value which overmeasures the critical stretched zone width.width.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.09a
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• pp.159-163
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• 2004

This study was conducted to calculate the permeability coefficient in a single fracture while taking the true fracture geometry into consideration. The fracture geometry was measured using the confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The CLSM geometry data were used to reconstruct a fracture model for numerical analysis using a homogenization analysis (HA) method. The HA is a new type of perturbation theory developed to characterize the behavior of a micro-inhomogeneous material that involves periodic microstructures. The HA permeability was calculated based on the local geometry and local material properties (water viscosity in this case). The results show that the permeability coefficients do not follow the theoretical relationship of the cubic law.