• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.403-430
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• 2011

The purpose of the study was to investigate how the use of graphing calculators influence on forming students' mathematical concept of algebra, students' mathematical connection, and attitude toward mathematics. First, graphing calculators give instant feedback to students as they make students compare their written answers with the results, which helps students learn equations and linear inequalities for themselves. In respect of quadratic inequalities they help students to correct wrong concepts and understand fundamental concepts, and with regard to functions students can draw graphs more easily using graphing calculators, which means that the difficulty of drawing graphs can not be hindrance to student's learning functions. Moreover students could understand functions intuitively by using graphing calculators and explored math problems volunteerly. As a result, students were able to perceive faster the concepts of functions that they considered difficult and remain the concepts in their mind for a long time. Second, most of students could not think of connection among equations, equalities and functions. However, they could understand the connection among equations, equalities and functions more easily. Additionally students could focus on changing the real life into the algebraic expression by modeling without the fear of calculating, which made students relieve the burden of calculating and realize the usefulness of mathematics through the experience of solving the real-life problems. Third, we identified the change of six students' attitude through preliminary and an ex post facto attitude test. Five of six students came to have positive attitude toward mathematics, but only one student came to have negative attitude. However, all of the students showed positive attitude toward using graphing calculators in math class. That's because they could have more interest in mathematics by the strengthened and visualization of graphing calculators which helped them understand difficult algebraic concepts, which gave them a sense of achievement. Also, students could relieve the burden of calculating and have confidence. In a conclusion, using graphing calculators in algebra and function class has many advantages : formulating mathematics concepts, mathematical connection, and enhancing positive attitude toward mathematics. Therefore we need more research of the effect of using calculators, practical classroom materials, instruction models and assessment tools for graphing calculators. Lastly We need to make the classroom environment more adequate for using graphing calculators in math classes.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.197-206
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• 2003

A three-dimensional (3-D) method of analysis is presented for determining the free vibration frequencies and mode shapes of solid and hollow hemispherical shells of revolution of arbitrary wall thickness having arbitrary constraints on their boundaries. Unlike conventional shell theories, which are mathematically two-dimensional (2-D), the present method is based upon the 3-D dynamic equations of elasticity. Displacement components μ/sub Φ/, μ/sub z/, and μ/sub θ/ in the meridional, normal, and circumferential directions, respectively, are taken to be sinusoidal in time, periodic in θ, and algebraic polynomials in the Φ and z directions. Potential (strain) and kinetic energies of the hemispherical shells are formulated, and the Ritz method is used to solve the eigenvalue problem, thus yielding upper bound values of the frequencies obtained by minimizing the frequencies. As the degree of the polynomials is increased, frequencies converge to the exact values. Novel numerical results are presented for solid and hollow hemispheres with linear thickness variation. The effect on frequencies of a small axial conical hole is also discussed. Comparisons are made for the frequencies of completely free, thick hemispherical shells with uniform thickness from the present 3-D Ritz solutions and other 3-D finite element ones.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.251-260
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• 2003

A three dimensional (3-D) method of analysis is presented for determining the free vibration frequencies and mode shapes of deep, tapered rods and beams with circular cross section. Unlike conventional rod and beam theories, which are mathematically one-dimensional (1-D), the present method is based upon the 3-D dynamic equations of elasticity. Displacement components u/sup r/, u/sub θ/ and u/sub z/, in the radial, circumferential, and axial directions, respectively, are taken to be sinusoidal in time, periodic in , and algebraic polynomials in the r and z directions. Potential (strain) and kinetic energies of the rods and beams are formulated, the Ritz method is used to solve the eigenvalue problem, thus yielding upper bound values of the frequencies by minimizing the frequencies. As the degree of the polynomials is increased, frequencies converge to the exact values. Convergence to four-digit exactitude is demonstrated for the first five frequencies of the rods and beams. Novel numerical results are tabulated for nine different tapered rods and beams with linear, quadratic, and cubic variations of radial thickness in the axial direction using the 3D theory. Comparisons are also made with results for linearly tapered beams from 1-D classical Euler-Bernoulli beam theory.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.119-129
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• 2004

A three dimensional (3D) method of analysis is presented for determining the free vibration frequencies and mode shapes of thick, circular and annular plates with nonlinear thickness variation along the radial direction. Unlike conventional plate theories, which are mathematically two dimensional (2D), the present method is based upon the 3D dynamic equations of elasticity. Displacement components u/sub s/, u/sub z/, and u/sub θ/ in the radial, thickness, and circumferential directions, respectively, are taken to be sinusoidal in time, periodic in θ, and algebraic polynomials in the s and z directions. Potential (strain) and kinetic energies of the plates are formulated, and the Ritz method is used to solve the eigenvalue problem thus yielding upper bound values of the frequencies by minimizing the frequencies. As the degree of the polynomials is increased, frequencies converge to the exact values. Convergence to four digit exactitude is demonstrated for the first five frequencies of the plates. Numerical results we presented for completely free, annular and circular plates with uniform linear, and quadratic variations in thickness. Comparisons are also made between results obtained from the present 3D and previously published thin plate (2D) data.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.667-678
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• 2002

In this paper, a new radiating structure with a multi-layered two-dimensional metallic disk array was proposed for shaping the flat-topped element pattern. It is an infinite periodic planar array structure with metallic disks finitely stacked above the radiating circular waveguide apertures. The theoretical analysis was in detail performed using rigid full-wave analysis, and was based on modal representations for the fields in the partial regions of the array structure and for the currents on the metallic disks. The final system of linear algebraic equations was derived using the orthogonal property of vector wave functions, mode-matching method, boundary conditions and Galerkin's method, and also their unknown modal coefficients needed for calculation of the array characteristics were determined by Gauss elimination method. The application of the algorithm was demonstrated in an array design for shaping the flat-topped element patterns of $\pm$20$^{\circ}$ beam width in Ka-band. The optimal design parameters normalized by a wavelength for general applications are presented, which are obtained through optimization process on the basis of simulation and design experience. A Ka-band experimental breadboard with symmetric nineteen elements was fabricated to compare simulation results with experimental results. The metallic disks array structure stacked above the radiating circular waveguide apertures was realized using ion-beam deposition method on thin polymer films. It was shown that the calculated and measured element patterns of the breadboard were in very close agreement within the beam scanning range. The result analysis for side lobe and grating lobe was done, and also a blindness phenomenon was discussed, which may cause by multi-layered metallic disk structure at the broadside. Input VSWR of the breadboard was less than 1.14, and its gains measured at 29.0 GHz. 29.5 GHz and 30 GHz were 10.2 dB, 10.0 dB and 10.7 dB, respectively. The experimental and simulation results showed that the proposed multi-layered metallic disk array structure could shape the efficient flat-topped element pattern.