• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.651-658
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• 2012

This paper concentrates on the evaluation of microcracks in thermal damaged concrete on the basis of the nonlinear ultrasonic modulation technique. Since concrete structure exposed to high temperature accompanies the development of microcracks due to the physical and chemical changes from temperature and exposed time, the adoption of nonlinear approach is required. Instead of using the conventional ultrasonic nondestructive methods which have the limitation in evaluating excessive microcracks, accordingly, a nonlinear ultrasonic modulation method which shows better sensitivity in quantifying microcracks is introduced. Upon the analysis for the modulation of ultrasonic wave and low frequency impact to measure the nonlinearity parameter, which can be used as an indicator of thermal damage, the verification processes for the introduced technique are followed: SEM investigation and permeable pore space test are performed to characterize thermally induced microcracks in concrete, and ultrasonic pulse velocity tests are performed to confirm the outstanding sensitivity of nonlinear ultrasonic modulation technique. In advance, compressive strength of thermal damaged concrete is measured to represent the effect of microcracks on performance degradation. Correlation studies between experimental data and measured data show that nonlinear ultrasonic modulation technique can effectively be used to quantify thermally induced microcracks, and to estimate the compressive strength of thermally damaged concrete.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.19 no.2 s.72
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• pp.171-185
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• 2006

A sophisticated reliability analysis method is proposed to evaluate the reliability of real nonlinear complicated dynamic structural systems excited by short duration dynamic loadings like earthquake motions by intelligently integrating the response surface method, the finite element method, the first-order reliability method, and the iterative linear interpolation scheme. The method explicitly considers all major sources of nonlinearity and uncertainty in the load and resistance-related random variables. The unique feature of the technique is that the seismic loading is applied in the time domain, providing an alternative to the classical random vibration approach. The four-parameter Richard model is used to represent the flexibility of connections of real steel frames. Uncertainties in the Richard parameters are also incorporated in the algorithm. The laterally flexible steel frame is then reinforced with reinforced concrete shear walls. The stiffness degradation of shear walls after cracking is also considered. The applicability of the method to estimate the reliability of real structures is demonstrated by considering three examples; a laterally flexible steel frame with fully restrained connections, the same steel frame with partially restrained connections with different rigidities, and a steel frame reinforced with concrete shear walls.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1001-1018
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• 2016

The purpose of this paper is to compare the structural responses obtained from the stochastic analysis of a suspension bridge subjected to uniform and partially correlated seismic ground motions, using different spatial correlation functions commonly used in the earthquake engineering. The spatial correlation function employed in this study consists of a term that characterizes the loss of coherency. To account for the spatial variability of ground motions, the widely used four loss of coherency models in the literature has been taken into account in this study. Because each of these models has its own characteristics, it is intended to determine the sensitivity of a suspension bridge due to these losses of coherency models which represent the spatial variability of ground motions. Bosporus Suspension Bridge connects Europe to Asia in Istanbul is selected as a numerical example. The bridge has steel towers that are flexible, inclined hangers and a steel box-deck of 1074 m main span, with side spans of 231 and 255 m on the European and Asian sides, respectively. For the ground motion the filtered white noise model is considered and applied in the vertical direction, the intensity parameter of this model is obtained by using the S16E component of Pacoima Dam record of 1971 San Fernando earthquake. An analytically simple model called as filtered white noise ground motion model is chosen to represent the earthquake ground motion. When compared with the uniform ground motion case, the results obtained from the spatial variability models with partial correlation outline the necessity to include the spatial variability of ground motions in the stochastic dynamic analysis of suspension bridges. It is observed that while the largest response values are obtained for the model proposed by Harichandran and Vanmarcke, the model proposed by Uscinski produces the smallest responses among the considered partially correlated ground motion models. The response values obtained from the uniform ground motion case are usually smaller than those of the responses obtained from the partially correlated ground motion cases. While the response values at the flexible parts of the bridge are totally dominated by the dynamic component, the pseudo-static component also has significant contributions for the response values at the rigid parts of the bridge. The results also show the consistency of the spatial variability models, which have different characteristics, considered in this study.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.47-58
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• 2018

Duncan & Chang(1970) proposed the Duncan-Chang model that a linear relation of transformed stress-strain plots was reconstituted from a nonlinear relation of stress-strain curve of triaxial compression test using hyperbolic theory so as to estimate an initial tangent modulus and ultimate deviator stress for the soil specimen. Although the transformed stress-strain plots show a linear relationship theoretically, they actually show a nonlinearity at both low and high values of strain of the test. This phenomenon indicates that the stress-strain curve is not a complete form of a hyperbola. So, if linear regression analyses for the transformed stress-strain plot are performed over a full range of strain of a test, error in the estimation of their linear equations is unavoidable depending on ranges of strain with non-linearity. In order to reduce such an error, a modified regression analysis method is proposed in this study, in which linear regression analyses for transformed stress-strain plots are performed over the entire range of strain except the range the non-linearity is shown around starting and ending of the test, and then the initial tangent modulus and ultimate deviator stresses are calculated. Isotropically consolidated-drained triaxial compression tests were performed on compacted weathered soil with a modified Proctor density to obtain their model parameters. The modified regression analyses for transformed stress-strain plots were performed and analyzed results are compared with results estimated by 2 points method (Duncan et al., 1980). As a result of analyses, initial tangent moduli are about 4.0% higher and ultimate deviator stresses are about 2.9% lower than those values estimated by Duncan's 2 points method.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2D
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• pp.227-234
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• 2008

This study examines which models are more suitable for representing mechanical property of unbound materials to analyze behavior of asphalt pavement structure. Results from FWD (Falling Weight Deflectometer) test were used to apply to nonlinear elastic model. The new method which can deduct material constants of nonlinear elastic model is suggested from FWD test data rather than laboratory resilient modulus ($M_R$) test. It is confirmed that the material constants are within the common range in subbase. Test output from FWD and MDD (Multi-Depth Deflectometer) was used to verify reliability of the model. From the results of verification, this study shows that a non-linear elastic model agrees to MDD test data more than a linear elastic model does.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.1C
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• pp.43-52
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• 2006

Despite several constitutive models have been proposed and applied, it is still difficult to choose a suitable model and to estimate adequate analysis parameters. Furthermore, a cyclic shear behavior under the volume change caused by the seepage is more complex. None of the constitutive model is available at present in the expression of the cyclic behavior of soil under an additional volume change condition by seepage. Therefore, a new geotechnical hybrid simulation system which can control the pore water immigration was developed. The system enables a quantitative evaluation of the residual deformation such as lateral spreading and settlement caused by the liquefaction. The seismic responses in a one-dimensional slightly inclined multilayered soil system are taken into consideration, and the soils are governed by both equation of motion and the continuity equation. Furthermore, the estimation and the selection of the soil parameter for the representation of the strong nonlinearity of the material are not required, because soil behaviors under the earthquake motions are directly introduced instead of a numerical soil constitutive model. This paper presents the concept and specifications of the system. By applying the system to an example problem, the permeability effect on the seismic response during cyclic shear is studied. The importance of the volume change characteristics of sandy soil during and after cyclic shear is shown in conclusion.