• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.270-288
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• 2021

We proposed a numerical method to simulate the hydro-mechanical behavior of rock fracture using a grain-based distinct element model (GBDEM) in the paper. As a part of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G, we verified the method via benchmarks with analytical solutions. DECOVALEX-2023 Task G aims to develop a numerical method to estimate the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes within the crystalline rock fracture network. We represented the rock sample as a group of tetrahedral grains and calculated the interaction of the grains and their interfaces using 3DEC. The micro-parameters of the grains and interfaces were determined by a new methodology based on an equivalent continuum approach. In benchmark modeling, a single fracture embedded in the rock was examined for the effects of fracture inclination and roughness, the boundary stress condition and the applied pressure. The simulation results showed that the developed numerical model reasonably reproduced the fracture slip induced by boundary stress condition, the fracture opening induced by fluid injection, the stress distribution variation with fracture inclination, and the fracture roughness effect. In addition, the fracture displacements associated with the opening and slip showed good agreement with the analytical solutions. We expect the numerical model to be enhanced by continuing collaboration and interaction with other research teams of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G and validated in further study experiments.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2024

Hydrogen embrittlement fracture poses a challenge in ensuring the structural integrity of materials exposed to hydrogen-rich environments. This study advances our comprehension of hydrogen-induced fracture through an integrated numerical modeling approach. In addition, it employs a ductile fracture model named the Gurson-cohesive model (GCM) and hydrogen diffusion analysis. GCM is employed as a fracture model that combines the Gurson model to illustrate the continuum damage evolution and the cohesive zone model to describe crack surface discontinuity and softening behavior. Moreover, porosity and stress triaxiality are considered as crack initiation criteria . A hydrogen diffusion analysis is also integrated with the GCM to account for hydrogen enhanced decohesion (HEDE) mechanisms and their subsequent impacts on crack initiation and propagation. This framework considers the influence of hydrogen on the softening behavior of the traction-separation relationship on the discontinuous crack surface. Parametric studies explore the sensitivity to diffusion properties and hydrogen-induced fracture properties. By combining numerical models of hydrogen diffusion and the ductile fracture model, this study provides an understanding of hydrogen-induced fracture and thereby contributes significantly to the ongoing efforts to design materials that are resilient to hydrogen embrittlement in practical engineering applications.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.113-122
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to compare soil $CO_2$ efflux between burned and unburned sites dominated by Pinus densiflora forest in the Samcheok area where a big forest fire broke out along the east coast in 2000 and to measure soil $CO_2$ efflux and environmental factors between March 2011 and February 2012. Soil $CO_2$ efflux was measured with LI-6400 once a month; the soil temperature at 10 cm depth, air temperature, and soil moisture contents were measured in continuum. Soil $CO_2$ efflux showed the maximum value in August 2011 as 417.8 mg $CO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$ (at burned site) and 1175.1 mg $CO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$ (at unburned site), while it showed the minimum value as 41.4 mg $CO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$ (at burned site) in December 2011 and 42.7 mg $CO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$ (at unburned site) in February 2012. The result showed the high correlation between soil $CO_2$ efflux and the seasonal changes in temperature. More specifically, soil temperature showed higher correlation with soil $CO_2$ efflux in the burned site ($R^2$ = 0.932, P < 0.001) and the unburned site ($R^2$ = 0.942, P < 0.001) than the air temperature in the burned site ($R^2$ = 0.668, P < 0.01) and the unburned site ($R^2$ = 0.729, P < 0.001). $Q_{10}$ values showed higher sensitivity in the unburned site (4.572) than in the burned site (2.408). The total soil $CO_2$ efflux was obtained with the exponential function between soil $CO_2$ efflux and soil temperature during the research period, and it showed 2.5 times higher in the unburned site (35.59 t $CO_2ha^{-2}yr^{-1}$, 1 t = $10^3$ kg) than in the burned site (14.69 t $CO_2ha^{-2}yr^{-1}$).

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.155-162
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• 2014

Using an isogeometric approach, a continuum-based shape design optimization method is developed for steady state power flow problems at high frequencies. In case the isogeometric method is employed to the shape design optimization, the NURBS basis functions used in CAD geometric modeling are directly utilized to embed the exact geometry into the computational framework so that the design parameterization for shape optimization is much easier than that in the finite element method and consequently provides the enhanced smoothness of design perturbations. Thus, exact geometric models can be used in both the response and the shape sensitivity analyses, where normal vector and curvature are continuous over the whole design space so that enhanced shape sensitivity can be expected. Through numerical examples, the developed isogeometric sensitivity is compared with finite difference one to provide excellent agreement. Also, it turns out that the proposed method works very well in the shape optimization problems.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.51-62
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• 2016

Parametric studies for various site conditions by using 3d numerical model were carried out in order to estimate dynamic behavior of soil-pile-structure system in dry soil deposits. Proposed model was analyzed in time domain using FLAC3D which is commercial finite difference code to properly simulate nonlinear response of soil under strong earthquake. Mohr-Coulomb criterion was adopted as soil constitutive model. Soil nonlinearity was considered by adopting the hysteretic damping model, and an interface model which can simulate separation and slip between soil and pile was adopted. Simplified continuum modeling was used as boundary condition to reduce analysis time. Also, initial shear modulus and yield depth were appropriately determined for accurate simulation of system's nonlinear behavior. Parametric study was performed by varying weight of superstructure, pile length, pile head fixity, soil relative density with proposed numerical model. From the results of parametric study, it is identified that inertial force induced by superstructure is dominant on dynamic behavior of soil-pile-structure system and effect of kinematic force induced by soil movement was relatively small. Difference in dynamic behavior according to the pile length and pile head fixity was also numerically investigated.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.593-609
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• 2021

We proposed a numerical method for the thermo-mechanical behavior of rock fracture using a grain-based distinct element model (GBDEM) and simulated thermally induced fracture slip. The present study is the benchmark simulation performed as part of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G, which aims to develop a numerical method to estimate the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes within the crystalline rock fracture network. We represented the rock sample as an assembly of Voronoi grains and calculated the interaction of the grains (blocks) and their interfaces (contacts) using a distinct element code, 3DEC. Based on an equivalent continuum approach, the micro-parameters of grains and contacts were determined to reproduce rock as an elastic material. Then, the behavior of the fracture embedded in the rock was characterized by the contacts with Coulomb shear strength and tensile strength. In the benchmark simulation, we quantitatively examined the effects of the boundary stress and thermal stress due to heat conduction on fracture behavior, focusing on the mechanism of thermally induced fracture slip. The simulation results showed that the developed numerical model reasonably reproduced the thermal expansion and thermal stress increment, the fracture stress and displacement and the effect of boundary condition. We expect the numerical model to be enhanced by continuing collaboration and interaction with other research teams of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G and validated in further study experiments.