• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제56권5호
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• pp.797-811
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• 2015

An analytical-computational method along with finite element analysis (FEA) has been employed to analyse the dynamic behaviour of deteriorated structures excited by time- varying mass. The present analysis is focused on the comparative study of a double cracked beam with inclined edge cracks and transverse open cracks subjected to traversing mass. The assumed computational method applied is the fourth order Runge-Kutta method. The analysis of the structure has been carried out at constant transit mass and speed. The response of the structure is determined at different crack depth and crack inclination angles. The influence of the parameters like crack depth and crack inclination angles are investigated on the dynamic behaviour of the structure. The results obtained from the assumed computational method are compared with those of the FEA for validation and found good agreements with FEA.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.465-485
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• 2017

In this paper, free vibration and static response of magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) beams has been investigated. To this end, a 3D finite element formulation has been derived by minimization the total potential energy and linear constitutive equation. The coupling between elastic, electric and magnetic fields can have a significant influence on the stiffness and in turn on the static behaviour of MEE beam. Further, different Barium Titanate ($BaTiO_3$) and Cobalt Ferric oxide ($CoFe_2O_4$) volume fractions results in indifferent coupled response. Therefore, through the numerical examples the influence of volume fractions and boundary conditions on the natural frequencies of MEE beam is illustrated. The study is extended to evaluate the static response of MEE beam under various forms of mechanical loading. It is seen from the numerical evaluation that the volume fractions, loading and boundary conditions have a significant effect on the structural behaviour of MEE structures. The observations made here may serve as benchmark solutions in the optimum design of MEE structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.391-406
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• 2009

Viscoelastic materials store as well as dissipate energy to the thermal domain under deformation. Two efficient modelling techniques reported in literature use coupled (thermo-mechanical) ATF (Augmenting Thermodynamic Fields) displacements and ADF (Anelastic Displacement Fields) displacements, to represent the constitutive relationship in time domain by using certain viscoelastic parameters. Viscoelastic parameters are first extracted from the storage modulus and loss factor normally reported in hand books with the help of Genetic Algorithm and then constitutive relationships are used to obtain the equations of motion of the continuum after discretizing it with finite beam elements. The equations of motion are solved to get the frequency response function and modal damping ratio. The process may be applied to study the dynamic behaviour of composite beams and rotors comprising of several viscoelastic layers. Dynamic behaviour of a composite beam, formed by concentric layers of steel and aluminium is studied as an example.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권4호
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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.

• 지질공학
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.383-391
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• 2019

Bio-grouting based on microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is recently emerging as a novel and environmentally friendly technique for improvement of coarse-grained ground. To date, the mechanical behaviour of bio-grouted coarse-grained soil with different calcite contents and grain sizes still remains poorly understood. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the influence of calcite content on the mechanical properties of bio-grouted coarse-grained soil with different grain sizes. This is achieved through an integrated study of uniaxial loading experiments of bio-grouted coarse-grained soil, 3D digitization of the grains in conjunction with discrete element modelling (DEM). In the DEM model, aggregates were represented by clump logic based on the 3D morphology digitization of the typical coarse-grained aggregates while the CaCO₃ was represented by small-sized bonded particle model. The computed stress-strain relations and failure patterns of the bio-grouted coarse-grained soil were validated against the measured results. Both experimental and numerical investigation suggest that aggregate sizes and calcite content significantly influence the mechanical behaviour of bio-cemented aggregates. The strength of the bio-grouted coarse-grained soil increases linearly with calcite content, but decreases non-linearly with the increasing particle size for all calcite contents. The experimental-based DEM approach developed in this study also offers an optional avenue for the exploring of micro-mechanisms contributing to the mechanical response of bio-grouted coarse-grained soils.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.117-143
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• 2017

The attack of environmental aggressive agents progressively reduces the structural reliability of buildings and infrastructures and, in the worst exposition conditions, may even lead to their collapse in the long period. A change in the material and sectional characteristics of a structural element, due to the environmental damaging effects, changes its mechanical behaviour and varies both the internal stress redistribution and the kinematics through which it reaches its ultimate state. To identify such a behaviour, the evolution of both the damaging process and its mechanical consequences have to be taken into account. This paper presents a computational approach for the analysis of reinforced and prestressed concrete elements under sustained loading conditions and subjected to given damaging scenarios. The effects of the diffusion of aggressive agents, of the onset and development of the corrosion state in the reinforcement and the corresponding mechanical response are studied. As known, the corrosion on the reinforcing bars influences the damaging rate in the cracking pattern evolution; hence, the damage development and the mechanical behaviours are considered as coupled phenomena. The reliability of such an approach is validated in modelling the diffusion of the aggressive agents and the changes in the mechanical response of simple structural elements whose experimental behaviour is reported in Literature. A second set of analyses studies the effects of the corrosion of the tendons of a P.C. beam and explores potentially unexpected structural responses caused by corrosion under different aggressive exposition. The role of the different types and of the different positions of the damaging agents is discussed. In particular, it is shown how the collapse mode of the beam may switch from flexural to shear type, in case corrosion is caused by a localized chloride attack in the shear span.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.297-306
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• 2019

The extension of existing RC buildings is a challenging process, which requires efficient connection between existing and new materials to guarantee load transferring between the lap-spliced longitudinal columns' reinforcement. Therefore, the length of the columns' starter bars is a crucial factor, which decisively affects the seismic response of the new columns. In particular, when the length of the starter bars is short, then the length of the lap splices of reinforcement is inadequate to ensure load transfer between steel bars and concrete, with an indisputable detrimental impact on the seismic behaviour of the columns. Moreover, in most of the existing RC buildings the column starter bars are of particularly short length, while they have probably been bent, cut or corroded. In the present study, the effectiveness of both welded rebar and mechanical splices of reinforcement in ensuring load transferring between the starter bars and the longitudinal reinforcement of the new column was experimentally evaluated. Four cantilever column subassemblages were constructed and subjected to earthquake-type loading. Three of the specimens were used to examine different types of shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), while in the fourth subassemblage mechanical splices were tested. The hysteretic response of the columns was evaluated and compared to the behaviour of a fifth specimen with continuous reinforcement, tested by Kalogeropoulos and Tsonos (2019). Test results clearly demonstrated that the examined types of SMAW were equally satisfactory in ensuring the ductile seismic performance of the columns, while the mechanical splices found to be more susceptible to exhibit slipping of the bars.

• 월간 기계설비
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• 통권76호
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• pp.38-50
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• 1996

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제71권5호
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• pp.553-562
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• 2019

This paper presents the results of a study into the dynamic behaviour of a support structure of a mobile elevating work platform. The vibrations of the mechanical system of the observed structure are examined analytically, numerically, and experimentally. Within the analytical examination, a simple mathematical model is developed to describe free and forced vibrations. The dynamic analysis of the mechanical system is conducted using a discrete dynamic model with a reduced number of vibrational degrees of freedom. On the basis of the expression for the system energy, and by applying Lagrange's equations of the second kind, differential equations are derived for system vibrations, frequencies are determined, and the laws of forced platform vibration are established. At the same time, a nonlinear FEM model is developed and the laws of free and forced vibration are determined. The experimental and numerical part of the study deal with the examination of the real structure in extreme conditions, taking into account: the lowest eigenfrequency, forced actions that could endanger the general stability, the maximal amplitudes, and the acceleration of the work platform. The obtained analytical and numerical results are compared with the experiments. The experimental verification points to the adverse behaviour of the platform in excitation cases - swaying. In such a situation, even a relatively small physical force can lead to unacceptably high amplitudes of displacement and acceleration - exceeding the usual work values.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.639-654
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• 2015

Bolted joints are essential elements of mechanical structures and metal constructions. Although their static behaviour is fairly well known, their dynamic behaviour due to shocks and vibrations has been less studied, because of the large size of the finite element models needed for a detailed simulation. This work presents four different simplified models suitable for studying the dynamic behaviour of an elementary bolted joint. Three of them include contact elements to allow sliding of the screw head and the nut on the assembled parts, and the last one allows rotation between screw and nut. A penalty approach based on the Coulomb friction model is used to model contact. The results show that these models effectively represent the dynamic behaviour, with different accuracy depending on the model details. The last model simulates the self loosening of a bolt subjected to transversal vibrations.